MM News

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan has now met all “tough” conditions of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and now the lender has “no excuse” to delay the staff-level agreement.

Addressing a ceremony after reviewing the construction work on the six-lane overhead bridge of Imamia Colony railways crossing Shahdra N-5, the PM lamented that the coalition government was making all-out efforts to convince the IMF officials to release a tranche of $1.1 billion.

Acknowledging the woes of the people because of historic high inflation, the premier accepted that Pakistan had “no choice” but to accept all strict conditions laid forth by the IMF to secure a much-awaited bailout tranche from the Washington-based lender.

Pakistan signed a $6.5 billion bailout package with the IMF in 2019, but has repeatedly reneged on conditions and so far, just $3 billion has been released.

“Such tough conditions were set which weren’t easy for Pakistan to fulfil,” the premier said, adding that in the last one-and-a-half-month, the coalition government has made a lot of efforts.

Lavishing praises on Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, PM Shehbaz said that the federal ministers were putting in efforts to complete the last condition regarding securing financial guarantees from “key” friendly countries.

The premier added that Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir also contributed to these efforts after which Saudi Arabia and UAE committed funds.

He expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for showing what brotherhood actually is.

He said that China had predicted two-and-a-half-months ago that Pakistan was facing difficulties and thrones were being laid to deepen the economic crisis therefore it immediately gave approval for the $2 billion roll over.

The prime minister hoped that now Pakistan will soon reach a staff-level agreement with the Washington-based lender; however, prayed that the country of 220 million gets rid of these shackles of IMF.

He further said that there existed economic challenges but the nation would have to decide whether it would depend on foreign debts or want to stand on its feet by carving a niche among the comity of nations with honesty, dedication and hard work.

“If the chronic issues relating to load shedding, the scourge of terrorism could end, free medicines could be provided to the poor, road infrastructure could be laid, then surely, the country could move on the path of progress and prosperity”, he added.

PM Shehaz said: “Pakistan was not created to run on debts and act like beggars because their forefathers and different generations had given sacrifices for the motherland.”