PTI contravened conditions agreed with IMF: Aisha Ghaus Pasha

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha on Wednesday said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff level agreement was facing delay due to its demand for fulfilling external funding requirements for debt repayments.

Speaking in the National Assembly during the question hour, she explained the current status of the IMF loan talks at the government level.

Pasha said the PTI not only contravened the conditions agreed with the IMF, but took steps in opposite direction that incurred a permanent damage to the country. She was responding to the queries of MNAs Aliya Kamran of MMAP and Sardar Talib Hassan Nakai pertaining to current status of agreement with the IMF.

The minister said that the government had to take confidence building measures after resumption of talks with the IMF that resulted due to compromised credibility of the country due to previous regime’s conduct.

She said that the coalition government managed the 7th and 8th reviews of the IMF with great efforts and the Fund made the government to take prior actions till the 9th review that had totally been implemented.

Dr Pasha informed after meeting the requirement of external funding requirements, the staff level agreement would be done which earlier used to be done without any hustle as currently the trust deficit resulted in these nuisances.

She further informed that friendly countries like China were cooperating in this regard and extended its full support. However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had also hinted at assistance whereas the country also hoped to get relief from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well that would help overcome the issue.