ISLAMABAD – Pakistani officials dismissed the impact of a loss of UScivilian aid, most of which flows through non-governmental organizations,on the country’s growing economy of nearly $300 billion.

Still, they have expressed concern that Washington wants internationalbodies to punish Pakistan for not heeding Trump’s South Asia securityagenda.

In February, urged by the United States and European powers, the FinancialAction Task Force, a global money-laundering watchdog, placed Pakistan on aterrorist financing watchlist.

Future civilian aid hinges on Pakistan’s rating in the State Department’s2018 TIP report, an assessment of how more than 180 countries andterritories are fighting human smuggling, modern slavery and related issueslike child soldiers.

Pakistan has been on the report’s Tier 2 “Watch List” for four years, thelimit a country can remain at the second-to-worst ranking. Unless it isupgraded, Pakistan will drop to Tier 3, the lowest rung, alongside Iran,North Korea and Syria, among others.

This would trigger the suspension of civilian assistance, except forhumanitarian and trade-related aid, unless Trump, who has been stridentlycritical of Pakistan, waives the penalties. A Tier 3 rating assesses that acountry does not comply with minimum US standards against human trafficking.

Pakistan has struggled to eradicate bonded labour practices, especially indirty brick kilns where children often work.

Iqbal said Pakistan would soon enact tougher laws. He did not confirm,however, that Washington had warned his government about potential aid cutsrelated to human trafficking.

“This cause is much more valuable than billions of dollars in aid becausethis is about human dignity. “There has to be more understanding of theefforts that countries like us are doing.”