ISLAMABAD, June 27, 2023: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday again contacted International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and expressed the hope that the world’s top lender would reach a decision on the stalled bailout package in a day or two.
The latest conversation came through a phone call after he held three meetings with the IMF chief in Paris last week and the National Assembly passed the revised budget for the year 2023-24 two days ago.
“In connection with the meetings held in Paris, the IMF director general acknowledged efforts by the finance minister and his team for completion of the programme,” read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
As the prime minister expressed the hope for a swift release of the stuck loan, he also reiterated, the statement said, his determination to achieve the goals of improving the economic situation through joint efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, Georgieva said the IMF wanted Pakistan’s economic situation to improve and appreciated the prime minister’s resolve.
The latest contact between Shehbaz and Georgieva comes as the government first accepted different conditions set by the IMF and then modified the budget with Rs215 in new taxes while removing all the restrictions on imports and increasing the interest rate by another 100 basis points (1 per cent).
In this connection, the official Twitter of the ruling party too posted a tweet.