ISLAMABAD – In a positive development, Pakistan to be removed from FATFgreylist with support of China and United States.
After taking steps against terror groups, Pakistan to come out of the GreyList of the international terror financing watchdog Financial Action TaskForce (FATF) at its plenary to be held on February 16.
According to Indian media, the FATF will hold its next plenary on February16. The report further states that after heavy lobbying by China there is”a 75 percent chance of Pakistan exiting the grey list now”.
The meeting of the Asia Pacific Joint Group, the FATF internationalcooperation review group, concluded in Beijing on Thursday where China didmuch of the heavy lifting to convince the 39-member grouping that Islamabadwas making “great efforts” in the area of counter-terrorism.
On Thursday, while responding to a question on the proceedings, Chineseforeign ministry spokesperson said: “Pakistan has made great efforts tostrengthen its domestic counter-terrorism financing system with visibleprogress.
Its political will and active efforts should be recognised and encouragedby the international community. We hope that the FATF will continue tooffer constructive support and assistance to Pakistan in its continuedefforts to improve the counter-terrorism financing system and effectivelyfighting terrorist financing.”
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“As FATF president and co-chair for Asia Pacific Joint Group, China willcontinue to uphold an objective, just and constructive attitude andparticipate in relevant discussions,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan requires 12 votes out of total 39 in the plenary meeting of theFATF to land back in the safe white list from grey list .
Earlier, Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the FATF in June 2018and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face therisk of being placed on the blacklist along with Iran and North Korea.
