Ishaq Dar to attend crucial meetings with IMF and World Bank

According to details provided by various media outlets, finance minister during his visit is expected to hold a separate meeting with the IMF officials to inform them about the reforms introduced by the government. The delegation will also discuss the possibility of combining the remaining 10th and 11th reviews under the $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, in case the pending 9th Review is completed.

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It is pertinent to mention here that the IMF program, which was signed in 2019, is set to expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the program cannot be extended beyond the deadline. It is therefore crucial for the government to ensure that all the reviews are completed before the deadline.

Apart from discussing the IMF program, the Pak team is also expected to brief International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank about the economic discipline and progress in efforts for funding from friendly countries. The IMF is seeking verification from Pakistan’s friendly countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, for additional assistance of $6 billion to the country.

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Finance experts in Islamabad believe the finance minister’s visit is crucial for Pakistan as it seeks to secure funding from international institutions and friendly countries to address its economic challenges. The visit provided an opportunity for the finance minister to showcase the economic reforms introduced by the government and its commitment to improving the country’s economic situation.

Also read: ‘Ishaq Dar hurt Pakistan’s economy with his IMF’s dealing’: Miftah Ismail