NACTA reviews strategy to implement FATF action plan

–Special meeting of National Task Force on Combating Terrorist Financing held at NACTA HQ

ISLAMABAD: The 10th monthly meeting of the National Task Force on Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) was held at the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Headquarters in Islamabad on Friday which reviewed the strategy to implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan.

NACTA National Coordinator Dr Sulaman Khan presided over the meeting which was attended by all 27 members of the task force from federal and provincial governments, and other organisations, including FIA, FBR, ANF, SBP, FMU, SECP, ministry of finance, ministry of interior and provincial home departments and CTDS. The day-long marathon meeting remained focused on the implementation of the FATF action plan.

All the stakeholders required to implement the action plan made their respective presentations and apprised the participants of the actions taken so far in this regard. The presentations revolved around enforcement activities by the law enforcement agencies, SBP, SECP, customs, NACTA, FIA, and others. The issues concerning implementation of the action plan were also thoroughly discussed and necessary decisions or recommendations made. The roadmap for the National Risk Assessment was also discussed in detail during the meeting.

The NACTA expressed its concerns on the news report published in a section of press on August 3, 2018, creating an impression that the authority was shying away from its duties of the national risk assessment.

The authority claimed to have been actively playing its role and aims to contribute towards its national responsibilities within its mandate. NACTA said, since last year, it has been proactively coordinating with all national stakeholders dealing with FATF action plan and APG mutual evaluation exercise by holding comprehensive monthly meetings on the subject matter and coordinating amongst the stakeholders.

Both NACTA and FIA expressed their eagerness over working together and accomplishing the task of risk assessment.  “Any such news may tarnish the national image and may raise questions on the readiness of state institutions to fight the menace of terrorist financing and implement the FATF Action Plan,” the authority said in its press statement.

Earlier, Dr Sulaman apprised the participants that NACTA, on the directions of the interior minister, had set up the National Task Force on CFT, which has an elaborate mandate in coordinating the combating terrorist financing activities. The said task force is represented by all stakeholders fighting against the financing of terrorism.

In June, after grey-listing Pakistan due to its ‘terror-financing deficiencies’, the FATF had given a 10-point action plan, welcoming the high-level political commitment conveyed by the country.