The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued fresh directives for biometric verification of existing banks customers, which are presently outside Pakistan, for compliance of Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Regime.
Based on the representations received from various stakeholders, including overseas Pakistanis, the SBP has issued new instructions regarding biometric verification of existing customers presently outside Pakistan.
As per instruction, for customers who fall under the definition of Non-resident Pakistanis (NRPs), the bank/DFI may obtain a signed undertaking from the customer invariably containing the customer's NRP status along with proof ie. copy of valid passport, visa, exit stamp, resident permit, copy of valid CNIC/ NICOP, account number(s) of the customer's account(s) maintained with the bank as per customer record and undertaking by the customer to inform the bank of any change in residency status.
The bank/ DFI, after verification of the customer's signature from its record, will accordingly update/reflect the NRP status in the customer profile. For such customers, as an alternative to biometric verification, the bank/ DFI may conduct fresh NADRA Verisys using the information provided by the customer.
Similarly, for customers who do not qualify under the definition of NRP, but are currently/ temporarily outside Pakistan for any reason, the bank/ DFI may obtain reasonable evidence/ proof from the customer regarding his/ her absence from the country (ie. copy of valid passport, visa, exit stamp, resident permit, etc.) and the expected date of return.
For such customers, as an alternate to biometric verification, the bank/ DFI may conduct fresh NADRA Verisys using the information provided by the customer.
The bank/ DFI may retain the NADRA Verisys in place of biometric verification until the customer returns, subject to reasonable time limit (not more than six months) to be defined by banks/ DFIs. Biometric verification of such customers shall be done immediately upon the customer's return to the country
For Joint Accounts, where one account holder is outside Pakistan (NRP/ temporarily), treatment of biometric verification should be done according to the status of respective individual. Biometric verification should be conducted for the joint account holder who is resident Pakistani.
The SBP has again advised banks/ DFIs may operate accounts on the basis of NADRA Verisys in genuine cases, provided the bank/ DFI is satisfied and proper reason/ proof is recorded/ retained by the bank/ DFI.
In the absence of biometric verification, bank/ DFI may ensure that requisite identification document has been obtained, marked as 'original seen' by their staff and verified through NADRA Verisys.
Moreover, an undertaking should be obtained from the customer declaring that the particulars provided to the bank/ DFI are correct and that their staff has verified the same.
The declaration should be endorsed by the Branch Manager and should be available in the bank's centralized record, the circular said.
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