IMF delegation reaches Islamabad for talks on bailout package

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached Islamabad for talks on the bailout package on Wednesday. Pakistan and the IMF will hold talks today and the authorities have prepared documents for the dialogues. The IMF could give Pakistan US$6-7 billion as bailout package. Finance Minister Asad Umar and heads of the Finance Bureau of Revenue and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will attend the meetings. Earlier, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice had said the fund’s executive board will be sent for talks on a staff-level agreement. Last month, IMF chief Christine Lagarde had said that she met with Umar, SBP Governor Tariq Bajwa and members of their economic team during which Pakistan formally requested for financial assistance. "During the meeting, they requested financial assistance from the IMF to help address Pakistan’s economic challenges," Lagarde said in a statement.