FATF officials review Pakistan’s anti-money laundering measures

A view from Islamabad (Blue Area), Pakistan. (Shutterstock)
Updated 15 August 2018
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FATF officials review Pakistan’s anti-money laundering measures

  • FATF reviewing progress on 12-point plan by the global watchdog of financial transactions on Pakistan
  • Foreign Ministry says Pakistan is prepared for the FATF visit

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of the global watchdog for financial transactions were visiting Pakistan this week to review progress on implementing a 12-point plan.

Pakistan was placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list” last June at FATF Plenary session in Paris after a review of the monitoring report of the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG).
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal told a news briefing last week, before the delegation arrived in the country: “Pakistan is prepared for the FATF visit.” 
The FATF delegation was scheduled to meet caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar and representatives of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan and other relevant state bodies.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body, which is based in Paris, which battles money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the international financial system. It was set up in 1989.
After the country was put on the FATF list, the Pakistan government reiterated its commitment to fulfilling demands made by the watchdog in July this year.
On June 30 Pakistan’s caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar promised that the government was determined to strengthen measures against terrorism and terror financing.
The FATF delegation’s visit will conclude on Thursday.


Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

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Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

  • Pakistani driver killed on Saturday as debris falls on vehicle in Al Barsha area, confirms Government of Dubai Media Office
  • Iran has targeted Gulf countries hosting US troops with missile, drone attacks since Middle East conflict began last week 

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national was killed this week after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office confirmed on Sunday.

The incident took place in Dubai’s Al Barsha area, the Dubai Media Office wrote on social media platform X, without confirming the location from where the projectile was fired from. 

“Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver,” the Dubai Media Office said. 

This is the second Pakistani national killed in the UAE since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. As per local media reports, a Pakistani national died in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 28 after being struck by missile fragments. 

Pakistani and Nepalese nationals were among six people injured by falling debris on Thursday after the UAE’s air defense systems intercepted drones, the Abu Dhabi Media Office had confirmed in a statement. 

Iran has carried out several missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries hosting American troops since Isreal and the US launched coordinated strikes against it last week. The surprise attack came after months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. 

Pakistan has asked its citizens in Gulf states to exercise caution, avoid travel and strictly follow official adviseries ever since tensions escalated in the region last week.

The UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest communities of overseas Pakistanis worldwide.

Pakistan has condemned the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran but also criticized Tehran’s attacks that have targeted countries in the Gulf region, advising all parties to exercise restraint. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to Gulf neighbors for the attacks, saying Tehran would halt strikes unless attacks against Iran originate from their territories. 

However, questions were raised over the apology as air defense sirens and interceptions were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain later on Saturday, fueling uncertainty across the Gulf.