ISLAMABAD: Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, stated on Wednesday that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff level agreement was experiencing delays as a result of the IMF’s demand for meeting the external funding requirements for debt repayments. She discussed the state of the government’s IMF loan negotiations during question time in the National Assembly. According to Pasha, the previous administration not only broke the terms of the IMF agreement but also took actions that permanently harmed the nation. She was responding to questions about the status of the agreement with the IMF from MNAs Aliya Kamran of MMAP and Sardar Talib Hassan Nakai.
The Minister said the government had to take confidence building measures after resumtion 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.
Meanwhile, The National Assembly on Wednesday witnessed introduction of ten periodical reports of various standing committees for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2021, and July 1 to December 31, 2021.
The periodical reports of Standing Committees on Energy (Petroleum Division), Foreign Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Science and Technology, Energy (Power Division), Maritime Affairs, Law & Justice, Information & Broadcasting for the period July 1 to December 31, 2021, were presented in the House.
Likewise, periodical reports of standing committees of Information & Broadcasting and Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit- Baltistan, one each, for the period January 1 to June 30, 2021, were also presented. All the reports were presented in the House as required by Rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
