Pakistan urges United States to help it getting off FATF Grey list

Islamabad : Pakistan has urged the United States to help them getting off the grey list of the FATF, which monitors global money laundering and terror financing, said a report.

At a press briefing on Friday night, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan hopes for United States' co-operation in their attempt to get off the list at the FATF’s Beijing meeting next month, Dawn news said in a report on Sunday.

“This meeting is very important for us as it leads to a plenary meeting in Paris in April where the world body will decide whether Pakistan remains on the list or is taken off,” he said.

The FATF had placed Pakistan on the list of countries which have failed to eradicate money laundering and where terrorists can still raise funds for their activities.

If not removed off the list by April, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries that face severe economic sanctions, such as Iran.

At his news briefing, Qureshi also urged the US to review its travel advisories for Pakistan and encourage investments in the country.

According to US travel advisory, the officials have asked their residents to avoid traveling to Pakistan due to terrorism threats.

Talking more about chances of the US supporting Pakistan, Qureshi mentioned that during his last meeting with the Pak PM Imran Khan, Donald Trump had said that he also wants to see Pakistan get off the grey list. "So, we expect US officials to work for it now."