Pakistan working on 12 points FATF action plan to avoid further downgrading to black list
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ISLAMABAD - The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has handed over a 12-point action plan to Pakistan calling for strengthening laws, procedures and mechanism to combat money laundering and terror financing and an evaluation team of the Asia Pacific Group (APG) is scheduled to visit Islamabad next week to review progress on these points.
This upcoming visit of the APG is considered very important to avoid further down-gradation and all relevant agencies and departments are placing the required framework with implementation plan to convince the world that Islamabad is taking all desired steps. According to the Ministry of Finance, Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar chaired the meeting of National Executive Committee (NEC) here the other day.
The NEC is a high level body established to oversee both policy and implementation matters of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism regime. The meeting, among others, was attended by interior minister and minister of law, governor of State Bank of Pakistan, secretary foreign affairs and senior officials of FMU, NACTA, FIA, FBR, SECP and other departments and institutions concerned.
The meeting took stock of the progress made to strengthen the institutional framework and coordination for the implementation of the FATF Action Plan.
Most agencies reported having set up focal points and dedicated units to pursue effective implementation. Senior officers from various departments briefed the meeting on progress regarding their respective spheres of work and there was an agreement that all the agencies will coordinate to fast-track work on the FATF Policy Action Plan to ensure effective compliance with the action plan.
In line with its mandate, the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) will coordinate, review and prepare a consolidated progress report for final submission to the Asia-Pacific Joint Group by the middle of August 2018.
