Pakistan's IMF Bailout Package Inked, Other Deals to Follow - Finance Minister

© AFP 2023 / MANDEL NGANThe seal of the International Monetary Fund is seen at the headquarters building in Washington, DC on July 5, 2015
The seal of the International Monetary Fund is seen at the headquarters building in Washington, DC on July 5, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Addressing a National Assembly Standing Committee, Pakistani Finance Minister Asad Umar said that the package deal has been documented, finalised and signed, specifying aspects such as the exchange rate, fiscal deficit, and public finance. He said an IMF mission will visit Islamabad later in April to work out the technicalities.

New Delhi (Sputnik): Cash-strapped Pakistan has found major relief as Finance Minister Asad Umar revealed on Monday that the country has signed a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reports the Dawn daily. Without disclosing the exact amount of bailout funding agreed, the minister said it would be between $6 billion and $8 billion.

READ MORE: Saudi Crown Prince Receives Gold-Plated Gun as a Gift From Pakistani Senators

The minister did not clarify whether the IMF asked for a written guarantee from Islamabad that the assistance would not be used to repay Chinese loans.

Briefing the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs chaired by Faizullah Kamoka, the finance minister said an IMF mission will visit Islamabad during the last week of April to finalise the technical aspects of the bailout package.

Islamabad top view - Sputnik International
Asia
Riyadh, Islamabad Sign Investment Deals Worth $20Bln - Reports
The minister also informed the committee that the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank would also provide bailout packages immediately following the IMF deal, which was finalised in talks between the two sides during a recent visit by Pakistani delegates to the United States.

Commenting on the agreed package, Umar said it would ease pressure on the country's foreign reserves.

On 25 March, China pumped-in $2.2 billion into Pakistan's dwindling foreign-exchange reserve, boosting it up to $10.2 billion as of 5 April this year.

READ MORE: China Can Help Pakistan to Free Itself From the IMF Chains — Scholar

Pakistan has so far received a total of $9.1 billion in financial assistance packages from friendly partners, such as Saudi Arabia ($3 billion) and the United Arab Emirates ($2 billion). In addition to the funding, Riyadh also agreed to a $3 billion petroleum oil supply line on deferred payments for Pakistan.

Pakistan estimated a financial deficit of around $12 billion for the 2019 fiscal year and another $7-8 billion for 2020.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала