The world will acknowledge Pakistan's compliance report to be submitted to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on April 15 as the country has taken several initiatives for making Pakistan safe and secure, said State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi. "Pakistan has set up a regulatory body for international non-government organisations (INGOs) and taken an across-the-board action against proscribed organisations and terror financing just to restore peace and stability in the country," he said, while taking to a select group of journalists at the end of a two-day Spring Festival at Kohat Garrison organised jointly by Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakistan Army.
He said that Pakistan has also pleaded its case effectively during the previous meeting of FATF as member countries except India acknowledged Pakistan's stance. The members countries gave a message that things have improved in Pakistan, he claimed.
However, Pakistan is not acting against proscribed organisations under pressure from the world but is taking these initiatives as a responsible and credible global state.
He said that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken steps to curb human trafficking and money laundering while the routes used by proscribed organizations had been chocked earlier. The Prime Minister and the Army Chief are monitoring these operations, he said.
"Now we will not take dictation from any one, as the era of 'do more' has ended," he said.
To a question about boycott of opposition parties from the government's briefing on National Action Plan (NAP), he said that NAP was framed following tragic incident of Army Public School (APS) with the complete censuses of the then government and opposition parties.
"If opposition parties are sincere with Pakistan, they should come forward to further improve NAP to completely eliminate the menace of terrorism," he said, adding that the previous government had failed to implement major points of NAP. Afridi said that the government has made an experts' group for improvement of National Security Policy and they would submit its report within one month.
"Today we are standing at the place (Kohat) about which there was a global perception that it is the most dangerous place for humanity but organising such a big event here will not only give a message that we have achieved peace but also gives a message that we are one nation and united," he said.
He said that the festival was jointly organised by Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan Army which shows that civil and military leadership and all other stakeholders are united.
The minister said that the main objective of visit of ambassadors of 14 countries to the festival is to show them exact picture and make them Pakistan's ambassadors at global level to inform the world that peace has been resorted in Pakistan.
Afridi said that the visa policy announced by the present government will play an important role to improve tourism industry and investment in the country. "We have opened doors for tourists to visit different parts of Pakistan," he said, adding that earlier tourists were facing problems while going to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
"We have achieved peace, come and be a part of Pakistan and develop your opinion after seeing Pakistan," he said, adding that some elements are trying to portray negative image of Pakistan.
He said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before being elected as premier was under sanctions for violating human rights. The minister said, "Now we will arrange events in different parts of the country and will engage diplomatic corps." The minister said that Pakistani prisoners in foreign countries will reach the country before Ramazan. Afridi said that Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) had been merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to bring these areas at par with other parts of the country.
The ambassadors and diplomatic staffs of 14 countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Morocco, Maldives, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Iran attended the festival. The Army officers welcomed the guests. The state minister and ambassadors laid floral wreaths at the Shuhada Monument.
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