Pakistan has not been added to the grey-list of global money-laundering watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after conclusion of the task force's plenary session on Friday.
The list called 'jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies', available on FATF's website, includes the names of Ethiopia, Iraq, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Vanuatu, and Yemen. It excludes Pakistan's name.
Speaking to correspondent Khalid Hameed Farooqi, manager communications FATF Alexandra Wijmenga-Daniel said the list was "final".
When asked about reports circulating in international media claiming Pakistan had been added to the grey-list, she said FATF was not responsible for reports in the media.
The next plenary meeting of FATF is expected to take place in June this year.
Miftah Ismail, the prime minister's adviser on finance, had also assured that Pakistan will see no substantial effect on its economy if placed on the grey-list.
The adviser had said that Pakistan was placed on the list between 2012 and 2015, but the stock market still grew by three percent, adding that the fundamentals of the country's economy are strong.
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said earlier that a request to include Pakistan in the grey-list was made in January by the United States and Britain.
"Pakistan has serious concerns over the motion moved by US and UK at the Financial Action Task Force to put the country on the grey list."
The reservations tabled before the FATF are those of America, the spokesperson added. He specified that Pakistan has already taken action against most of the reservations, including implementing its own national action plan (NAP).
The FO spokesperson further added that reports from the FATF and the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) are still awaited.
In a message posted on Twitter, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said there is no official intimation of #FATF decision yet and "we should not speculate till official statement is released". He also thanked Turkey for its support.
No official intimation of #FATF decision yet. We should not speculate till official statement is released.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) February 23, 2018
Thank you Turkey for standing with Pakistan against all odds & proving that we are one. We are proud to have a brother like you.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) February 23, 2018
