ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner (HC) to Pakistan Dr Christian Turner on Wednesday said that the United Kingdom (UK) will support Pakistan on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issues.
Pakistan's performance on FATF roadmap imports is excellent, said the British High Commissioner during a meeting with Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed. Pakistan has fully implemented 24 out of 27 points on the FATF roadmap, Rasheed said.
According to the official statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the meeting also discussed the possible return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to country. Rasheed during a press conference said that he had a detailed discussion with the British envoy regarding the matter.
It said that both discussed issues of mutual interest, including the Pakistan-UK relations. Rasheed offered condolences over the death of Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
The meeting also discussed in detail progress on repatriation and extradition agreements between the two countries as well as red listing of passengers traveling from Pakistan to the UK due to coronavirus. Rasheed told the High Commissioner that putting Pakistan on the red list because of Covid-19 is a matter of great concern for the Pakistanis.
Rasheed told the UK High Commissioner that Covid-19 is spreading much faster in a neighbouring country than other countries in the region therefore putting Pakistan on red list is a discriminatory step. On this, the UK envoy said that placement of Pakistan on the red list is not discriminatory as the number of passengers from Pakistan to the UK from is the highest as compared to other countries.
The British High Commissioner said that the positivity rate among passengers travelling from Pakistan to the UK is quite high due to which Pakistan has been put on the red list. The meeting agreed to complete extradition and repatriation agreements as soon as possible. It was agreed that the agreements were in the mutual interest of both countries therefore it was necessary to accelerate progress on it.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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