The decision to remove or retain Pakistan's name from the FATF gray list will be taken at the end of the FATF Plenary Virtual Meeting today.
The FATF meeting in Paris has been going on since June 21. The government of Pakistan hopes for better progress in the FATF meeting. Finance Ministry officials say that nothing can be said definitively about the delisting. Pakistan's name has been on the FATF's gray list since June 2018.
Speaking on SAMAA's New Day on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan has to see how it views FATF. Pakistan has fulfilled the technical requirements of FATF. Pakistan has been given 27 conditions out of which Pakistan has fully adhered to 26, on one condition only tremendous progress has been made. If they are using it against Pakistan, then there is something else. Before the PTI government came to power, Pakistan was on the gray list.
He explained that FATF is a technical forum and should be used as a technical forum. Some countries, including India, want to use FATF for political purposes and should not be allowed to do so.
He said that let's see what is decided in the FATF meeting, at present there is no justification to keep Pakistan in the gray list but this decision is visible.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan has taken other countries into confidence and informed them of the situation. Pakistan has contacted several foreign ministers and apprised them of the progress. Pakistan has conveyed its message through letters and talks and the Prime Minister has also made high level contacts. Pakistan has made all possible diplomatic efforts and reforms. Legislation and administrative decisions have also been taken by Pakistan.
He also said that we have taken steps to control terra financing. Apparently, the US says that it also wants Pakistan to be removed from the gray list.
Shah Mehmood said that nothing could be said if FATF fell prey to political expediency. Pakistan has to do what is in Pakistan's interest. The steps taken by Pakistan will continue. If Pakistan's interest and global public opinion come together, there will be further improvement.
On France's attempt to keep Pakistan on the FATF's gray list by the German media, he said that France should not use Pakistan to punish and share its concerns.
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