Govt sets up special cell to implement FATF action plan

Named the FATF Cell, the unit will function under the administration of the DG Intelligence and Investigation

LAHORE: The government has set up a special unit within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan for Pakistan.

Named the FATF Cell, the unit will function under the administration of the Director-General Intelligence and Investigation and will include senior and experienced customs officers. The appointed officers will be authorised to access and obtain information from any FBR department across the country and the cell will serve as the focal point for any contacts with the FATF.

According to the directives issued by the chairman of FBR, director Cross-Border Currency Movement Abdul Waheed Marwat has also been appointed to work with the cell, who will continue to perform his present duties along with the new assignment.

Muhammad Asif, who has returned to the FBR after completing his tenure with the National Highway Authority, will be appointed as the additional director of the cell.

The deputy collector customs Islamabad Wajid Zaman will serve as the deputy director of the cell, Zahoor Ahmed Mughal will be the superintendent and Sajid Mehboob will serve as the intelligence officer of the FATF Cell.

According to the FBR sources, the government is very serious about fulfilling the agreements and undertakings made with FATF and has created the new cell in line with that commitment.

Sources further revealed that among other tasks, the cell will be responsible for curbing the practice of money laundering and will coordinate with FBR field offices across the country to handle the timely and effective completion of all FATF-related tasks.