FIA sets up FATF desks nationwide to combat money laundering ahead of Pakistan’s 2027 evaluation

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established Financial Action Task Force (FATF) desks across all its zones and specialised wings as part of preparations for Pakistan’s next evaluation by the global anti-money laundering watchdog in 2027.

The move expands the existing FATF secretariat operating under the FIA’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Directorate and is aimed at strengthening compliance with international standards relating to money laundering, terrorism financing and predicate offences.

Director General Dr Usman Anwar has directed all zones and specialised wings to establish FATF desks within seven days. Each desk will be headed by an officer of at least assistant director rank and will report to a corresponding desk at FIA headquarters.

Officials said the expanded structure is intended to improve the quality of investigations and prosecutions, enhance data management, facilitate timely international cooperation requests, strengthen inter-agency coordination and improve feedback mechanisms.

The newly established framework comprises seven specialised units: the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Investigation Monitoring Unit (IMU), International Cooperation Unit (ICU), Inter-Agency Coordination Unit (IACU), Risk Assessment Unit (RAU), Seizure and Confiscation Unit (SCU), and the Forensics and Virtual Assets Unit (FVAU).

The FIU will process financial intelligence received from the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), while the ICU will handle international cooperation requests related to money laundering, terrorism financing, asset recovery and fugitive tracking.

The IMU will oversee the quality and effectiveness of investigations, whereas the IACU will assist investigators in obtaining information from agencies including Nadra, Immigration and Passports, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and provincial authorities.

The RAU will conduct sectoral and geographical risk assessments that contribute to national risk evaluations. The SCU will manage records related to asset seizure and confiscation, while the FVAU will support investigations involving digital evidence, cyber-enabled crimes and virtual assets.

The FIA established its FATF secretariat in 2021 at the AML Directorate to address shortcomings identified under FATF’s 27-point action plan. 

Pakistan was placed on the FATF grey list in August 2018 and was removed in October 2022 after completing a 27-point action plan focused on technical compliance and effectiveness. The country's exit from the enhanced monitoring list improved its standing with international financial institutions and supported broader economic engagement, including discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).