ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the IMF have worked out modalities for the release of $900 million next tranche once Pakistan removes…
IMF
The decision of hike in petroleum products was taken in light of the IMF guidelines as the lender insisted removal of petroleum subsidies to revive the much-needed programme for Pakistan
The political cost of reducing gasoline and energy subsidies is one of the most excruciating
Both the National Assembly and the Senate will send representatives to the joint session of parliament.
IMF mission’s chief noted that on the fiscal side, there were deviations from the policies agreed upon in the last review, partly reflecting the fuel and power subsidies announced by the authorities in February.
Miftah said that the government would not accept some of the tough conditions of the IMF for the resumption of loan.
Miftah criticized the former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin for claiming that he left the money to fund these subsidies, adding that Tarin used to be a technocrat till this age, but now he talks like Imran Khan’s young supporters.
The govt-IMF talks opened on a positive note as the two sides appeared converging to key principles — separating the state’s economic decision-making from politics.