On Friday, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said it would conduct an onsite visit to Pakistan as soon as possible, indicating the country is likely to be removed from the grey list.

The decision was announced after a three-day FATF plenary meeting in Berlin, Germany. As soon as the relocation decision arrives, the onsite inspection will be announced immediately, and the next plenary meeting will be officially relocated.

Meanwhile, the official announcement will be made at the FATF October plenary meeting. “At the June 2022 plenary meeting, the FATF initially determined that Pakistan has completed two action plans covering 34 projects. An onsite visit is required to verify the implementation of AML/CFT reforms in Pakistan has started and is being implemented. The necessary political commitment remains to maintain future implementations and improvements,” the FATF said.

“FATF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct onsite visits as early as possible,” the statement added.

Since June 2018, Pakistan has been trying to get off the grey list. FATF finds it difficult to curb money laundering that sends funds to terrorist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The country has been on the list since 2018 for failing to comply with FATF requirements.