The European Union (EU) welcomes Pakistan’s progress on implementing the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plans and lauds adoption of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act. FATF had added Pakistan to its grey list due to deficiencies in its Anti-money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing Terrorism (CFT) Act. Since then, Pakistan has made a high-level political commitment to work with FATF to strengthen its AML/CFT Act. Pakistan has completed 26 of the 27 action items in its 2018 action plan. The FATF recognises Pakistan’s efforts to combat AML/CFT deficiencies. The international body encourages the government to continue to address the one remaining CFT-related item. The remaining action concerns investigating and prosecuting senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terror groups.
Recently, the government of Pakistan has implemented a law for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals. Pakistani journalists have long faced serious obstacles to their work, including harassment, intimidation, assault, arbitrary arrest and detention, abduction, and death. This law will offer journalists and media professionals the right to carry out their work in conflict-hit areas within the country without threat, intimidation, harassment or fear of persecution or targeting. FATF has also appreciated this effort of the incumbent government as the media plays a vital role in a democratic society.
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