ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has said that Pakistan has taken specific actions to save itself from being included in the grey list by Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
In a written reply to the National Assembly, the minister informed that Pakistan had been nominated by FATF for the grey list during February 2018, Plenary meeting; however, official intimation is yet to be received from FATF.
However, he added prior to the next FATF Plenary scheduled in June 2018 on the areas identified by the FATF, an Action Plan with time-frame, will be developed. The agreed action plan by Pakistan would be placed in the next Plenary of FATF for its implementation, he added.
The minister said that the government had taken many specific actions which include curtailment of capacity of the entities of concern to raise funds, enhanced coordination between the agencies of the Federal and Provincial government on Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) measures, regulatory and supervisory measures taken by the SBP to prevent the use of financial sector by the entities of concern.
Miftah Ismail said the steps included taking control over the moveable and immoveable assets and the welfare services that were operated by the entities of concern while all health and medical services provided by the entities of concern including ambulances operated by Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FiF) is taken over by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.
The finance minister said that all the educational and social welfare institutions, run by these entities were taken over by the relevant departments of the provincial governments while appointment of official administrators for each and every institution, taken over in this month.
The minister said that all the signboards and posters of the entities of concern have been removed from the facilities that have been taken over and the same were replaced with that of the relevant government departments.
Miftah Ismail said that these actions demonstrated the high level of political commitment of the Government of Pakistan to implement its international obligations under the UNSCR and FATF recommendations.
Moreover, additional required actions were under way, which will be highlighted during the next FATF plenary to be held on June 2018, he added.
