FATF spokesperson dismisses reports of Asia Pacific Group blacklisting Pakistan

A spokesperson of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has dismissed reports of the Asia Pacific Group (APG) blacklisting Pakistan.

Indian media has been falsely reporting that Pakistan has been blacklisted by the APG.

Geo News reports that the spokesperson Alexandra Wijmenga has clarified that only the FATF had the authority to blacklist, not its regional affiliate APG.

According to the spokesperson, the FATF will hold its meeting on October 14-18 in Paris and decisions which are taken would be published.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Finance also rejected the reports circulated by the Indian media that Pakistan had been blacklisted by the APG.

“Media reports circulating about Pakistan being blacklisted by APG is incorrect and baseless,” a press release from the ministry said.

“[APG] has put Pakistan in its enhanced follow-up as per APG’s Third Round Mutual Evaluation Procedures. In line with APG’s Third Round Mutual Evaluation Procedures, Pakistan would be required to submit follow-up progress reports to APG on a quarterly basis,” it added.

The ministry in the press statement clarified that APG in its 22nd Annual Meeting which was held in Canberra, Australia from August 18-23, 2019, adopted Pakistan’s 3rd Mutual Evaluation Report and put Pakistan in its enhanced follow-up as per APG’s Third Round Mutual Evaluation Procedures.