PM Shehbaz assures IMF chief of completing programme

ISLAMABAD: Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva on Friday called Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif over telephone, expressed her deep sympathy and concern on the human and material losses due to the recent floods and reiterated her commitment to help Pakistan in the difficult period.

The prime minister thanked the IMF managing director for her concern on the fallout of the floods and extended an invitation to her to participate in the Climate Resilient Pakistan Conference at Geneva.

Kristalina Georgieva thanked the PM for the invitation, saying she would be able to join the conference virtually as the IMF Board meetings had been prefixed for January 9-10.

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The prime minister assured the IMF MD that Pakistan was committed to successfully complete the ongoing Fund’s programme. He also thanked her for her understanding and empathy of the challenges that Pakistan had been facing.

Earlier on Dec 19 2022, ‘Dissatisfied’ with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to jack up the levy on diesel, ARY News reported, citing sources.

The IMF has expressed ‘dissatisfaction’ over the policies of Ishaq Dar and presented more demands in front of Pakistan for the continuation of the current $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme.

Sources having knowledge of the issue said that the IMF has asked Pakistan to increase the levy on diesel in January and February after which the govt has decided not to provide ‘full’ relief of downing prices of diesel in the international market to the masses.

Sources further say that Pakistan is in a pact with the IMF for an increase of the Rs50 petroleum levy.

The finance ministry sources said the levy on petroleum will be increased by Rs20 until February 2023.