Islamabad, May 12 -- The IMF has called on Pakistan to take swift and strict action against trade-based money laundering ahead of the federal budget for FY 2026-27, according to Samaa TV.

As per the report, the IMF has raised concerns over suspicious financial activities across several sectors, including trade, banking, real estate, and non-financial businesses. It has urged the government to curb money laundering practices being carried out through trade channels during budget preparations.

The IMF also highlighted gaps in the system for sharing beneficial ownership information and stressed the need to strengthen financial oversight mechanisms. It noted weaknesses in the monitoring of suspicious transactions across banks, non-financial...