Amid economic crisis in Pakistan, a report has revealed that several of the country’s top
politicians own property worth $12.5 Billion in Dubai. The report released on Tuesday – titled
‘How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate’, was put together by journalists from
74 different organisations in 58 countries after an investigation spanning for over six months.
It assesses assets up to the spring of 2022.
According to the report, rich Pakistan nationals own between 17,000 to 22,000 properties
worth $12.5 billion in Dubai. Dawn.com adds that the data provides an overview of hundreds
of thousands of properties and information about their ownership or usage.
It was obtained by the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), a US-based non-profit
organisation, that researches international crime and conflict. The data was then shared with
Norwegian outlet E24 and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
The report further adds that the property owned by Pakistanis in Dubai may have been worth
more than $10 billion at the start of 2022. But it has seen a 25% increase in prices over the
last two years.
According to the report, prominent Pakistanis who own these properties include PPP
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the wife
of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Ms Ashraf, Sharjeel Memon, Ikhtiar Baig, President Nawaz
Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz, son of General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Saad Siddique Bajwa;
Senator Faisal Vawda, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Akhtar Mengal and PML-N MNA Ehsanul Haq
Bajwa.
“If we have the data you are talking about, as well as the information on residence status,
we will make sure those who are eligible to pay tax in Pakistan on rental income or capital
value are doing so,” Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana, chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue
(FBR), was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the report adds that Indian owners top the list. Pakistan is the second-largest
nationality owning properties in Dubai.