Senator Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister, took part in IMF/World Bank Spring meetings via Zoom with a high-level IMF team led by Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department (MCD).
According to a press statement issued here, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, and SAPM on Revenue Tariq Mehmood Pasha joined the meeting virtually.
In participation was Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Ahmad Khan, Governor SBP Jamil Ahmad, Secretary Finance, and Secretary EAD.
The two sides discussed the current IMF programme’s development, including discussions with the IMF Mission during their visit to Pakistan, as well as the implementation of earlier steps.
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Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar stated that due to local important commitments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked him to stay in Pakistan, resulting in the cancellation of his scheduled visit to Washington DC and that he is therefore attending the IMF/World Bank Spring meetings via zoom from Pakistan.
Dar informed the IMF team about the country’s economic issues. He also discussed the GoP’s aim for restoring the country’s macroeconomic stability.
He further stated that all earlier activities for the 9th Review under the Extended Fund Facility have been completed and that the Government of Pakistan is completely committed to fulfilling its obligations as agreed with the IMF.
Dar stated that the only IMF programme he successfully finished was during his previous time as Finance Minister.
Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF, expressed optimism that the Staff Level Agreement (SLA) will be signed soon, followed by approval by the IMF Board.
He hoped that Pakistan would continue to make progress on reforms in all areas and that the IMF Programme would be completed on schedule, and that the IMF would play a beneficial role in delivering economic stability to Pakistan.
The Finance Minister thanked IMF Director Jihad Azour and his team for their assistance in concluding the 9th Review.
