KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has started investigations into the irregularities found in the loans amounting to over Rs73 billion taken by nine sugar mills belonging to the Omni Group from the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) as well as other private banks.
As many as nine new inquiries have been registered in the FIA’s Karachi commercial banking circle.
The investigation into money laundering allegations continues against the Omni Group Chairperson Anwar Majeed, who is believed to be a close aide to former president Asif Zardari, and his sons. The former president and his sister Faryal Talpur are also included in the list of suspects. The joint investigation team (JIT) constituted by the Supreme Court has begun giving final shape to its investigation.
The JIT had found during its investigation that Majeed’s Omni Group owns as many as nine sugar mills, all of which are located in Sindh. The Omni Group had pledged 4.5 million bags of sugar in March and April 2018 to obtain a total loan of Rs13b from both government and private banks.