Pakistan 'substantially completed two action plans': FATF

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday acknowledging the completion of Pakistan’s both Action Plans (2018 and 2021) has authorized an onsite visit to the country, as a final step to exit from the FATF’s grey list.

The task force reviewed Pakistan’s progress on FATF Action Plans in its plenary meetings held in Berlin on 13-17 June 2022, a press release issued here by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"Pakistan has substantially completed its two action plans but on-site visits are required to verify Islamabad’s implementation," a statement issued by the watchdog said.

However, Pakistan has not been officially removed from the FATF's grey list. 

The watchdog said that FATF will “monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date”.

The watchdog noted that since June 2018, when Pakistan high-level political commitment to work with FATF, continued its political commitment to combating both terrorist financing and money laundering has led to significant progress

“In particular, Pakistan demonstrated that terror financing investigations and prosecutions target senior leaders and commanders of UN designated terrorist groups and that there is a positive upwards trend in the number of money laundering investigations and prosecutions being pursued in Pakistan, in line with Pakistan’s risk profile. In addition, Pakistan also largely addressed its 2021 action plan ahead of the set times,” said FATF. 

Soon after the announcement, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar — who was leading Pakistan's delegation at the plenary session in Berlin —  congratulated Pakistan after the watchdog declared both action plans complete. 

Congrats Pak! FATF declares both Action Plans complete. Intl community has unanimously ack our efforts. Our success is the result of 4 yrs of challenging journey. Pak reaffirms resolve to continue the momentum and give our economy a boost. Well done Pak Team FATF. Pak Zindabad!

— Hina R Khar (@HinaRKhar) June 17, 2022

 "International community has unanimously acknowledged our efforts. Our success is the result of four years of challenging journey. Pak reaffirms resolve to continue the momentum and give our economy a boost," said Khar while congratulating the Pakistan team at FATF.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday said that Pakistan’s process of exiting the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list would come to an end in October.

“Now our process of exiting the grey list as per the FATF procedure starts, according to which a technical evaluation team will be sent to Pakistan,” she said in a video message after the task force said the country had met all 34 items on two separate action plans.

“It is our full effort that this team completes its work before October’s plenary cycle and we have told them that we will ensure their comfort and ease,” Khar said.

According to Foreign Office, the FATF members while participating in the discussion on Pakistan’s progress congratulated Pakistan for completing both Action Plans covering 34 items, and especially on the early completion of the 2021 Action Plan in a record timeframe.

Pakistan continued its relentless efforts towards successful completion of these Action Plans despite many challenges including the COVID 19 pandemic.

Pakistan has covered a lot of ground in the Ant- Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) domain during implementation of FATF Action Plans.

The engagement with FATF has led to the development of a strong AML/CFT framework in Pakistan and resulted in improving the country’s systems to cope with future challenges.

The Pakistan delegation, which attended FATF Plenary meetings in Berlin, was led by Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs / Chairperson National FATF Coordination Committee.