ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday commended relevant persons and institutions in synergizing efforts for being removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

The prime minister telephoned Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and congratulated him on this all important achievement.

PM Shehbaz Sharif praised the army chief in establishing the core cell at the General Headquarters (GHQ) “which steered the national effort & civil-military team which synergized implementation of action plan made it possible.”

He felicitated entire civil and military leadership, and their respective team, which was part of the core cell for their efforts in this regard.

While speaking to the army chief, the prime minister held that the nation was proud of everyone who had worked for the success of Pakistan in achieving this milestone.

Earlier, the prime minister held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after Pakistan met conditions of both action plans set by FATF for being removed from the grey list.

The prime minister lauded his efforts for playing his critical part in engaging with the International community pressing for the removal of Pakistan’s status from the FATF grey list.

FM Bilawal told the prime minister that the entire team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deserves credit for the achievement. He said that all efforts will be made to bring the nation out of difficult situations.

PM Shehbaz Shairif also commended Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and their respective teams for playing their part. He congratulated them and called it an important success for Pakistan.

READ MORE PM Shehbaz felicitates Bilawal on removal from FATF’s grey list

Earlier Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has felicitated the nation and welcomed the announcement of FATF that Pakistan has met all its conditions for exclusion from the grey list.

In a statement, the prime minister said return of Pakistan to the white list is a big success of the country.  He said the efforts of the FATF-related cell which included the military and civil leadership are praiseworthy and credit goes to them for their endeavours in this achievement.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said the statement of FATF is recognition of the restoration of the international reputation of Pakistan. He said such good news will be destiny ofPakistan in future. He said the return of Pakistan to the white list will help improve economic and financial situation.

In a separate statement, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said the completion of the FATF’s action plans by Pakistan is a great achievement. According to ISPR, the Army Chief said the achievement is a monumental effort for paving way for white listing.

The FATF announced that Pakistan has substantially completed two action plans and would be removed from the grey list after it passes the on-site visit.

According to Foreign Office, the global watchdog reviewed Pakistan’s progress on FATF Action Plans in its plenary meetings held in Berlin. The FATF has approved an on-site visit to Pakistan in October as a final step to exiting from the grey list.

The FATF members congratulated Pakistan for completing both Action Plans covering 34 items, and especially on the early completion of the 2021 Action Plan in a record timeframe.

The Pakistan delegation, which attended FATF Plenary meetings in Berlin, was led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

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