Pakistan Expands Anti-Money Laundering Laws to Target Crypto and Marit

Pakistan Expands Anti-Money Laundering Laws to Target Crypto and Maritime Threats

Pakistan's National Executive Committee has approved adding PVARA and maritime laws to the Anti-Money Laundering Act during its 19th meeting.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 27, 2026 · 7:03 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

The NEC held its 19th meeting at the Finance Division under the leadership of Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Officials approved adding PVARA and Section 28 of the Pakistan Maritime Zones Act, 2023, to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Section 28 of the Maritime Zones Act goes into Schedule I of the AMLA, while PVARA is placed in Schedule IV.

Aurangzeb called for a clear implementation roadmap with defined timelines to strengthen the Financial Monitoring Unit.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb led the 19th gathering of the National Executive Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism at the Finance Division. During the session, officials cleared the inclusion of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and Section 28 of the Pakistan Maritime Zones Act, 2023, into the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Authorities will insert Section 28 of the Maritime Zones Act into Schedule I of the anti-money laundering legislation, and PVARA will find its place in Schedule IV. The committee acts as the primary oversight body guiding policy and execution for Pakistan's financial crime prevention network.

Progress on Past Decisions Reviewed

Attendees evaluated how well agencies followed through on directives from the 18th committee session while checking overall advancements within the country's AML-CFT system.

Participants insisted that the regulatory structure must adapt to changing financial threats and new technologies. Officials also demanded better analytical tools across all appropriate organizations.

Roadmap for FMU

Aurangzeb stated that the operational and analytical strength of the Financial Monitoring Unit needs enhancement via a specific implementation schedule featuring clear deadlines.

He noted that the committee serves as a strong strategic platform to reinforce the nation's financial defense structures. The minister explained that the group guarantees prompt coordination, cooperation between agencies, and steady tracking to ensure proper execution of planned actions.

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