FATF to give Pak report next week

The global watchdog for money laundering and terror financing has prepared a preliminary report on Pakistan’s progress on the implementation of the 27point action plan and will present it at FATF’s next plenary meeting from June 21, according to a media report.

The report has been prepared by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG), which includes the US, the UK, France, China and India.

Currently placed on the FATF’s ‘grey list’, Pakistan has been scrambling in recent months to avoid being added to a list of countries deemed non-compliant with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations by the global watchdog, a measure that officials here fear could further hurt its economy.

The Express Tribune quoted sources in the Ministry of Finance as saying that Pakistan’s progress was reviewed at a virtual meeting of the ICRG by international observers on Tuesday. According to the sources, Pakistan has implemented 26 of the 27point FATF action plan. “There is partial progress on the point of conviction. Relevant laws have been amended. Therefore, it is hoped that there will be good news for Pakistan at the FATF’s Plenary Session starting from June

21 to 25,” the report said. Sources said that in view of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan is likely to remain on the grey list as it would require two to three more months to implement the remaining one point.