KARACHI: A team of officers of the Pakistan Customs, led by Chief Collector of Customs, Karachi, Muhammad Yaqoob Mako, played a key role in the implementation of conditions which helped Pakistan to come out of the FATF ‘grey list.’
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Customs Operations Mukarram Jah Ansari also appreciated the services of the officers, especially Muhammad Yaqoob Mako, which helped complete the actions for the FATF programme for Pakistan.
In a series of statements, Mukarram Jah Ansari said,” Over a dozen officers from the Pakistan Customs remained involved in completing the actions for the FATF programme for Pakistan. The main team was led by Yaqoob Mako and comprised Asad Rizvi, Waheed Marwat, Saeed Wattoo, Ch Javaid. The team was ably supported by Imran Rasool, Wajid Zaman, Haleema Qasim, and Rehan Akram. Other contributors included Imran Tahir, Saeed Ashraf, Javed Shah and Muhammad Talha.”
Mukarram Jah Ansari said the team was entrusted with IO-8 activity, whose major component included cash smuggling, confiscations, risk assessments, controls, legislations, systems, and cooperation mechanisms. “These officers have done Pakistan proud,” he added.
Muhammad Yaqoob Mako is working as Chief Collector of Customs (OPS), Enforcement (South), Karachi. Previously, he worked as Chief, BDT-Customs Federal Boar of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad, with the look after charge of the post of Chief/Focal Person, MER IO-8, FATF Cell, FBR (HQ), Islamabad. The officer continues to look after the charge of the post of Chief / focal person, MER IO-8, FATF Cell, FBR (HQ), Islamabad (Stationed at Karachi) in addition to his own duties.
A few days ago, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) took Pakistan off its global money laundering watchlist. The international money-laundering watchdog had put the country on its so-called grey list in June 2018, after Islamabad failed to implement policies aimed at stamping out money laundering and the financing of international terror groups. In a statement, the Paris-based organisation said it “welcomes Pakistan’s significant progress” in its anti-money laundering efforts. “Pakistan is therefore no longer subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process,” it added.
“The FATF welcomes Pakistan’s significant progress in improving its AML/CFT regime. Pakistan has strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime and addressed technical deficiencies to meet the commitments of its action plans regarding strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified in June 2018 and June 2021, the latter of which was completed in advance of the deadlines, encompassing 34 action items in total. Pakistan is therefore no longer subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process,” the statement added.
“Pakistan will continue to work with the APG to further improve its AML/CFT system,” the statement added.
