ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed again his hope on Sunday that Pakistan will reach an agreement with International Monetary Fund (IMF) this month to get the remaining loan as the government had fulfilled all the conditions.
Addressing a ceremony at Sabzazar Sports Complex in Lahore, the prime minister said that he had a detailed conversation with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva recently and assured her that Pakistan would meet conditions for the loan agreement and provide the required information about the budget.
He said Pakistani was a vibrant nation, fully capable of meeting all the economic challenges in case of more delay in the resumption of the IMF program.
The prime minister said that despite all the financial difficulties, the government raised the employees’ salaries by 30 to 35%, increased pension by 17%, and minimum wage from Rs.25000 to 32000 rupees. The government was aware of the financial problems of the poor people.
He said major funds were reserved for agriculture and information technology sectors in the budget presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, adding that it would provide relief to the common people and create employment opportunities.
Pakistan’s Economic Situation
The PM said that he assumed government in April last year amid very difficult economic conditions. The Imran Khan-led government broke the agreement with IMF, while the coalition government had to face the challenge of rising commodity and oil rates in the international market. It also spent huge funds for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.
He added that the government had to seek help from friendly nations to overcome economic problems.
The premier said that today he was inaugurating the first of the fifteen sports complexes, which would benefit the talented youth free of charge. The complex would have separate facilities for girls and boys, and 50% of the membership would be free, while the other half would be charged to meet the operational expenditure of the complex.
