Friday, March 29, 2024

PM summons meeting on Monday to review amnesty scheme

PM summons meeting on Monday to review amnesty scheme
May 12, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting on Monday to receive briefing on the amnesty scheme. According to the details garnered, the meeting to review economic affairs including ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The meeting will be organized in the auditorium of the Prime Minister Office, which will be attended by Finance Advisor to the PM Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and his team, while members of the National Assembly and the federal cabinet will also be present on the occasion. The sources said that the particulars of a bailout package between the government of Pakistan and the IMF are likely to be announced on Monday.
Bailout package’s draft ready as Pakistan accepts several demands of IMF
The draft for International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package has been prepared as Pakistan accepted the major demands of IMF. According to the sources of Finance Ministry, Pakistan has accepted major demands of the IMF for bailout package in the draft agreement. However, It also said that over strict terms and conditions posed by the IMF on Pakistan for a bailout package, Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed reservations.
The sources further said that the premier seeks soft terms and conditions from the IMF regarding inflation, particularly relaxation in a larger tax rebates and exemptions. Moreover, PM Khan has directed concerned officials to persuade the IMF for a reduced tax collection target. Following to this, the PM has summoned an important meeting on Monday to examine financial affairs, the tax amnesty scheme and the IMF deal. Several members of the federal cabinet will also attend the meeting. It was reported that the government has accepted several demands of the IMF, including the increase in electricity and gas prices in the country. The Pakistani officials bowed down before the IMF and accepted the condition for removing subsidy on agriculture, devaluation of rupees as wells as hiking the percentage rate of interest. According to the spokesperson of Finance Ministry, it said only that “We have made good progress in our discussions with the visiting IMF mission. Consultations will continue over the weekend.”