Highly interesting situationer is going on in Pakistan on IMF program for $ 6 Billion said to be the life line for the financial revival of the country. On one side the Prime Minister had detailed meeting with MD of IMF. PM is hopeful for the program. Government sided anchorpersons are commenting and hailing Ishaq Dar the finance minister as savior of the nation who has said good bye to IMF. And Mr. Dar himself is slapping the journalists in Islamabad on why they ask about the IMF Program.
This scribe recieved the following details of the meeting between PM and MD in Paris:
Pakistan is hopeful to received the funds from IMF at the earliest as the government has fulfilled all obligations agreed with IMF. Both parties moved forward in this regard today in Paris where on the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact being held in Paris, France, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif met Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Views were exchanged on the ongoing programmes and cooperation between Pakistan and IMF.
Recalling their recent telephone conversation on 27 May 2023, the Prime Minister apprised Ms. Georgieva of Pakistan’s economic outlook. The Prime Minister outlined the steps taken by the Government for economic growth and stability. He underscored that all prior actions for 9th Review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) had been completed and the Government of Pakistan was fully committed to fulfilling its obligations as agreed with the IMF.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the funds allocated under the IMF’s EFF would be released as soon as possible. This would help strengthen Pakistan’s ongoing efforts towards economic stabilisation, and bring relief to its people.
The Managing Director of IMF shared her institution’s perspective on the ongoing review process. The meeting provided a useful opportunity to take stock of the progress in that context.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Ms. Sherry Rehman; Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq; Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Marryam Aurangzeb; Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Ms. Aisha Ghaus Pasha; Special Assistant to PM, Mr. Tariq Fatemi and Pakistan’s Ambassador to France, Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad attended the meeting.
Going through this information, one can better reach to the conclusion that Pakistan and IMF are moving forward to a possible agreement in the remaining 8 days time. But in Pakistan the Finance Minister has lost his temperament on the question ” Pakistan will get IMF program or not? Certainly, if PM had a fruitful discussion and MD IMF also shares it in her tweet, how the FM Dar is not happy ? Moreover, some anchorpersons are appreciating FM Dar for he has said good bye to IMF and managed to strengthen the economy. How the anchorpersons claim this when Prime Minister is hopeful after the meeting with the MD IMF?
Raja Liaqat from Paris 
