FATF to decide on Pakistan’s grey list status today

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is set to decide today whether or not Pakistan has made considerable efforts to counter terror financing, and take a call on whether the country will continue to remain in the grey list. It is highly unlikely that Islamabad will get a breather from the sword hanging on its head as European nations believe the country has not fully implemented the points in the plan of action laid down by the watchdog.

According to media reports, certain European nations, including FATF host France, have recommended that Pakistan continued to be kept in the grey list.

Reports also suggested that the US could lobby for the continuation of Islamabad on the grey list at least until June this year.

The virtual FATF plenary began on February 22 and will conclude in Paris today to deliberate on the cases of various countries on the grey list.

Pakistan has been on the ‘grey list’ since June 2018 and Imran Khan administration was given an ultimatum in February 2020 to complete the 27 action plans by June last year. However, Islamabad is struggling to shield terror perpetrators and at the same time also implement the FATF action plan.