Pakistan on 4-month notice as FATF retains it in 'Grey List'; given February 2020 deadline

Paris, Oct 18: International terror financing watchdog FATF on Friday retained Pakistan on the Grey List and warned the country of action for its failure in combating money laundering and terror financing, officials said.

The FATF noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, responsible for series of attacks in India.

''Strongly urge Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2020 otherwise should significant and sustainable progress not be made across the full range of its action plan by next Plenary, the FATF will take action including urging members to advise their financial institutions to give special attention to business relations/transactions with Pakistan,'' the statement read.

"It was again decided by consensus that FATF would retain Pakistan on the Grey List and warn Pakistan that if it did not complete its full Action Plan and show significant and sustainable progress action will be taken," an official privy to the development said.

The decision was taken after a five-day plenary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held here.

Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the Paris-based watchdog in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019, or face the risk of being placed on the Black List with Iran and North Korea.