KARACHI: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin has said that the government would give the nation “good news” about the stalled $6 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme “soon”.
Addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of a hospital in Karachi’s Naya Nazimabad, Tarin said that IMF wishes to announce the deal on its own.
He said that negotiations this time around, compared to March, have been “much better” and the government even refused certain conditions put forth by the IMF. He said that IMF programmes are “tough” on governments.
The PM’s advisor said Pakistan can also expect a financial support package amounting to $3 billion from Saudi Arabia “in the next few days”.
Earlier, in an exclusive interview with the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki said Saudi Arabia will soon disburse cash deposits to Pakistan under the pledged financial assistance after approval of the Royal Court and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a few days.
“This will happen soon, Insha Allah. There will be the agreement from the Royal Court and the MoU will be signed in a few days for the payment, and also for the deferred oil payment [facility],” the Saudi envoy said.
Tarin, in his address today, said that the government is working on a long-term strategy to strengthen the economy on a sustainable basis.
“We need progress that lasts 20 years, not five years,” he said.
Tarin said the government stands with the common man and is taking every possible measure to facilitate the vulnerable segments of the society. He reminded the nation that the government has launched Ehsaas Rashan programme, under which it will provide a discount of Rs1,000 a month, constituting a 30% subsidy on flour, pulses, ghee, and cooking oil per unit purchase, to 130 million people.
