HUGE BOOST FOR PAKISTAN: The much-awaited good news has come. After four years of broad legal and administrative reforms, streamlining systems and increased international cooperation, Pakistan’s efforts have borne fruit. The country was taken off a global money laundering watchlist on Friday. While removing Pakistan from its so-called “grey list”, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force welcomed country’s significant progress in improving its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing policies. Pakistan had been struggling to put its finances in order, with a cost-of-living crisis, a nose-diving rupee and dwindling foreign exchange reserves when catastrophic floods caused at least $40 billion in damage and losses and sent inflation and food prices soaring. The FATF decision is welcome news that will ease access to finance for the country, attract foreign investments and boost the beleaguered economy. [COMMENT BY: N.R. Stephen, Senior Associate Editor]