Pakistan to seek U.S. help for revival of stalled IMF loan programme

According to sources within the Finance Ministry, the incumbent government has decided to seek Washington's help as the majority of the demands of the fund have been completed

Pakistan has decided to seek U.S. help for the revival of the stalled IMF loan programme, following the delay in the staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund, ARY News reported.

According to sources within the Finance Ministry, the incumbent government has decided to seek Washington's help as the majority of the demands of the fund have been completed. "There is no need for further delay in the staff-level agreement."

As per sources, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will talk with the U.S. envoy this week. It has been learnt that there are chances of a staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF this week.

The virtual talks are also scheduled today with the International Monetary Fund. Talks were held between officials from State Bank of Pakistan and IMF on March 9. They discussed the points finalised in the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies.

IMF had asked Pakistan to implement its demands before reaching a staff-level agreement for revival of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) stalled for months. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 11 said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was out to create hurdles in the revival of the International Monetary Fund's programme which was reached during the previous PTI-led government, Pakistan Today reported.

He said that the creation of chaos on roads is part of Imran Khan's agenda which aims at "fanning the fire of instability in the country." "The creation of chaos on roads and anarchy is part and parcel of Imran Niazi's agenda, aimed at fanning the fire of instability in the country," PM Sharif said in a short statement shared by Pakistan PM Office media wing on March 11.

"The timid person did not allow the courts to search him as he is guilty," he added. PM Sharif said that the PTI chief did not want the poor people to come out of the problems, including inflation and economic pressure, as per the news report.