ISLAMABAD Aug 7: The government said Wednesday it knew nothing of a British audi tor's report that the centra) bank had fined the scandal ridden Bank of Credit and Commerce Internationa) (BCCI), reports AP.

TW auditor's report, published in the British newspa per The Guardian, said the State Bank of Pakistan had fined BCCI Pakistan tn December 1988 for paying excessive Interest on accounts to attract deposits and for break Ing three other banking regu lations The newspaper did not disclose the amount of the fine.

The auditors report was prepared for and delivered to the BCC Emirates, which is negotiating with the govern ment to buy BCCI Pakistan s

The state bank makes routine investigations, but this is the first I've heard of this audi tor's report or of an earlier fine.’ said Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz

Khalil Hasan. Manager of BCCI tn Karachi, claimed that every bank in Pakistan has been fined by the State Bank for one reason or another, including BCCI. He refused to say how much BCCI Pakistan has paid out tn penalties

"Fines are not unusual In Pakistan. Almost every week the banks here, whether domestic or foreign owned, are penalized for something." said Hasan.

Most Pakistanis believe BCCTs worldwide closures were a conspiracy by the developed world, particularly the United States and Israel, to destroy the Muslim bank because It rivaled Western financial enterprises.

BCCI s founder. Agha Hasan Abedi. Ilves In Karachi.

BCCTs Pakistan operations are one of the few to remain open after July 5 when the Bank of England accused BCCI of widespread fraud, based on a report by British auditors, and initiated the worldwide closures