Monitoring Desk:
In a major development, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) removed Pakistan from the grey list. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made the announcement prior to the FATF press conference, congratulating the country on the achievement.
FATF GREY LIST REMOVAL A VICTORY FOR PAKISTAN:
Removal of Pakistan from the FATF grey list is marked as a victory in the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs offices as now the corridors of free trade have opened for the people of the country.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was quick to congratulate the country on the development moments before the FATF press conference began.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s exiting the FATF grey list was a “vindication of our determined and sustained efforts over the years”.
He congratulated the civil and military leadership as well as all institutions whose hard work led to today’s success. “Aap sab ko bohat bohat Mubarak,” the premier said, following up with a text smiley.
PM Shehbaz particularly commended the role and efforts of FM Bilawal, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, their teams, and all political parties for putting up a united front to get Pakistan out of the grey list.
Pakistan was included among jurisdictions under an increased monitoring list in June 2018 for deficiencies in its legal, financial, regulatory, investigations, prosecution, judicial and non-government sectors to fight money laundering and combat terror financing considered a serious threat to the global financial system.
More to follow
