Federal-Provincial Training for LEAs for Countering the Financing of Terrorism held in Islamabad and Lahore

14 and 15 January 2019, Islamabad & 17 and 18 January 2019, Lahore. UNODC in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) organised two Counter Terrorism Financing Trainings; in Islamabad on 14 and 15 January 2019 at the Serena, and in Lahore on 17 and 18 January 2019 at the Avari. The attendees comprised officers from federal and provincial law enforcement, Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The first workshop, in Islamabad, was opened with comments from Mr Shahzada Sultan, NACTA; Mr Zaman Mehdi, Director CT Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mr Syed Arslan, Programme Advisor, UNODC.

Mr Arsalan Malik, UNODC then gave a short presentation on the Strengthening of Pakistan's Response to Counter Terrorist Funding programme funded by the Government of Japan. 

There then followed a number of presentations from Mr Simon Welch, UNODC Consultant, on International and National Frameworks for Countering Terrorist Financing, Understanding Terrorist Financing and Sources of Intelligence, Developing a Financial Intelligence Strategy, and Gathering Evidence & Conducting Financial Investigations.

The day culminated in a group exercise to reinforce the lessons learned, and short presentations from each of the respective groups formed.

The second day started with a presentation from Mr Simon Welch on Identifying Potential Targets for Counter Terrorist Investigations. There followed further presentations from Mr Welch on Surveillance, Searches, and Undercover Operations; and on Personal and Company Financial Profiles.

After lunch there were two group exercises, followed by group presentations: the first facilitated by Mr Welch on Terrorist Financial Investigation Strategies and Tactics; and the second by Mr Khurram Rana from the FIA on Case Preparation in Terrorist Financing Investigations using a practical scenario based on a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) received.

The second workshop, in Lahore, was opened by Ms Durr-e-Maknoon (Director CTF NACTA) who explained the importance of Financial Investigations in Combatting Terrorism in Pakistan and apprised the participants of NACTA's recent initiatives.  The workshop followed the same format as the first in Islamabad over the next two days.

Both workshops encouraged diverse group discussions and NACTA and UNODC received a positive feedback from the participants on the content presented to them.

The trainings were made possible with the financial support of the Government of Japan.