IMF wants talks if Sri Lanka-like situation arises in Pakistan: Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants to hold talks if a situation like Sri Lanka arises in Pakistan.

Expressing his views in the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday, he said that geopolitics is going on to make Pakistan default. "Pakistan is an independent country and we cannot accept each word of the IMF. We will make the foreign payments on time and will not approach the Paris Club to get the debt rescheduled," he declared.

"However, nothing will happen to Pakistan without the IMF. The difference of the foreign deficit is US$3 billion, while the IMF has stuck to US$6 billion which is wrong," he maintained.

The minister said that the amendments made to the State Bank of Pakistan Act by the former regime reflects the concept of state within state. "Enemies of Pakistan are frightening the people by telling lies," he added.

He said that a crackdown will be started against the people smuggling foreign currency. "The budget has not been prepared in consultation with the IMF. We know from where and how much tax we have to collect," he maintained.