FATF condition: Int’l air passengers must declare currency

The notification comes as an FATF team is expected to arrive in Pakistan next month for ‘on-site’ visit

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Tuesday made currency declaration by all international passengers mandatory, as part of the measures taken to curb money laundering to fulfil the condition of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), according to a notification issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The notification came as an FATF team was expected to arrive in Pakistan next month for “on-site” visit to verify steps taken by Islamabad to curb money laundering and terror financing. A successful on-site visit would pave the way for Pakistan getting out of the FATF grey list.

The CAA issued the notification on the instructions of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The notification said that a declaration form would have to be filled and handed over to the airline staff, in which the passenger would show details of domestic and foreign currency.

Also read: FATF team due next month for ‘on-site’ visit

No international passenger would be able to board the flight or leave the airport without submitting the declaration, it said. The notification added that the passengers would be required to submit the currency declaration form to the customs staff before checking in for the flight.

The authority had issued instructions that currency declaration forms should be made available at booking offices of the airlines. It added that domestic and foreign airlines, pilots and staff had been informed about the details regarding the provisions of the customs declaration form.