Based on PTI work FATF declares Pakistan’s action plan completed: Iman Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) repeatedly praised work and the political will demonstrated by the PTI government.

In a tweet Imran Khan said that the PTI government has not only averted blacklisting but also completed 32 out of 34 action items. “We submitted compliance report on remaining two items in April based on which FATF now declared Pakistan’s action plan as completed.”

The former prime minister detailed, “I constituted a FATF Coordination Committee headed by key minister Hammad Azhar. The committee had representation from all government departments and security agencies relevant to our FATF action plan. The officers worked day and night in the first instance to avoid blacklisting.”

“I am confident that prerequisite onsite visit of FATF team to confirm completed work on our action plan will pass successfully too,” said Khan.

“Pakistan was nominated for greylisting by FATF in Feb 2018 and had to complete the most challenging action plan ever given to any jurisdiction. When my government took over, we faced the dire prospect of Blacklisting by that body. Our past compliance history with FATF was also not favourable.”

Pak was nominated for grey listing by FATF in Feb 2018 & had to complete the most challenging action plan ever given to any jurisdiction. When my govt took over, we faced dire prospect of Blacklisting by that body. Our past compliance history with FATF was also not favourable.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 17, 2022

He praised the special efforts of PTI leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar, members of his FATF coordination committee and officers who worked on the task performed exceptionally well. He added, “The whole country is proud of you.”

Hammad Azhar, who was the former energy minister and also the government’s top coordinator for efforts on anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing over the past four years, hailed the FATF’s acknowledgment of Pakistan’s compliance as “a great landmark”.

In a tweet, Azhar said FATF rated Pakistan compliant on all 34 action items.

“Only 2 action items were outstanding and based on compliance done during Oct-March period, they have been cleared too. All countries that exit grey list undergo onsite visits as per the procedure.”

Pak has today achieved a great landmark. FATF rated us compliant on all 34 action items. Only 2 action items were outstanding & based on compliance done during oct-march period, they have been cleared too. All countries that exit grey list undergo onsite visit as per procedure.

— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) June 17, 2022

Meanwhile, PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi credited the PTI and ex-PM Imran Khan for “the achievement”, recalling the country was put on the grey list during the PML-N’s tenure in 2018.

He said FATF had declared both action plans complete whose compliance report was submitted by the PTI government in March.

Prior to the announcement, PTI’s Senator Ejaz Chaudhry had expressed hope that Pakistan would exit the grey list, terming it the result of the Imran Khan-led government’s work.