ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Hammad Azhar on Friday has said that Pakistan has received a 7-point action plan today which is related to money laundering.

Federal Minister Hammad Azhar while addressing a press conference said that FATF appreciated Pakistan's commitment and efforts in seeking upgrades in a number of recommendations and expected that Pakistan would continue same momentum.

The minister said that Pakistan has now completed 26 of the 27 Action Plan items.

A total of 82 deficiencies were highlighted in Pakistan's 2019 MER which were included in the POPR as 67 recommended actions in 11 IOs, on which Pakistan reported progress.

Hammad Azhar further said that the new action plan, received today, is targeted to be implemented in one year, adding that implementation of new and old action plan is necessary to get out of the gray list.

He added that there was no danger for Pakistan being blacklisted.

On the other hand, the Financial Action Task Force has decided to keep Pakistan on the gray list. Pakistan has fulfilled 26 out of 27 conditions of the 2018 Action Plan.

FATF recognized considerable progress made by Pakistan on action plan and Pakistan's high-level commitment. Pakistan has now completed 26 of the 27 Action Plan items. The FATF, after discussion, decided to retain status quo for Pakistan i.e. countries in increased monitoring for 2018 TF Action Plan, for remaining one action plan item.

The FATF expressed satisfaction with Pakistan's progress, and urged Pakistan to make its sentencing mechanisms effective.

The FATF in its statement stressed that Pakistan has to implement the six points attached to the last condition.