ISLAMABAD: The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, has congratulated Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on successful conclusion of 11th Review with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility and termed it a creditable achievement, saying it indicated the government’s commitment to reforms and economic stability.
The minister stated that the reforms programme, agreed with the Fund, was home-grown and the government remained fully committed to further economic reforms in the future, whenever required.
The US representative informed the minister about the preparations for US-Pak Business Opportunities Conference to be held in New York on June 3, 2016, and stated that businessmen from both sides had shown great enthusiasm for the conference.
Dar expressed the hope that such events would provide traders and businessmen of both Pakistan and US the opportunity to have direct interaction and start joint ventures and forge partnerships. He regretted that he would not be able to attend the conference due to budget related engagements. Dar and Olson reaffirmed their commitment to expand and deepen trade and economic ties between the two countries.
The minister said that US Exim Banks planned financing of the 3600 MWs LNG based power projects in the country, would open up new avenues of bilateral cooperation. Officials of the US Embassy and Ministry of Finance were also present in the meeting.
