By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistan said on Tuesday that it had curbed foreign funding received by religious schools and charities through "informal channels."
The foreign office statement followed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Pakistan issuing of a denial of alleged funding for terrorism last week.
The move to curb foreign funding, which Pakistan said was “regardless of the source or country” is considered a move to choke off financing for militant groups, after the Taliban killed more than 100 children in the city of Peshawar in December.
Saudi Arabia, other gulf states and Iran have faced media criticism for alleged funding of religious schools promoting their own schools of thought.
Foreign Office Spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said on Monday that Saudi Arabia is an important contributor to Pakistan's economic development.
“However, funding by private individuals and organizations to private entities through informal channels, regardless of the source and country, are being brought under tighter scrutiny in the National Action Plan against terrorism, to choke off any possibility of financing for terrorists and terrorist organizations,” said Aslam.
