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.

Speaking to Geo News, spokesperson Alexandra Wijmenga 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, the Ministry of Finance rejected reports in 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 quarterly basis,” it added. 

The APG in its meeting during the week of 18-23 August adopted Pakistan’s third mutual evaluation report.

A statement by the APG read, “during the week, APG members adopted six significant mutual reports. The reports – for China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Pakistan, the Philippines and Solomon Islands – were analysed and discussed in detail over two full days and will now be subject to post-plenary quality and consistency review prior to publication. Final publication on the APG website is expected in early October 2019.”