• He said country was facing multiple economic challenges.
• Inflation boosted because of Imran Khan’s policies, he added.
• “Govt inherited economic crisis from previous government,” he said.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said the government was hopeful of striking a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a couple of days, Bol News reported.

“We appreciate role of the World Bank in development of Pakistan. Soon we will address the economic issues,” Ishaq Dar said addressing a seminar in Islamabad.

He said the country was facing multiple economic challenges. Inflation boosted because of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s policies, he added.

“We want to stabilize the country in the new budget by reducing challenges for the masses. The coalition government is struggling to stabliise the economy. It inherited the economic crisis from previous government,” he said.

The finance minister said budget deficit increased because of the wrong policies of the past. Country’s economic challenges multiplied since 2018, he maintained. He blamed that Imran Khan hurt trust of the development institutes.

“Investment slashed because of wrong policies of the PTI. We will strictly implement the austerity drive. All the cabinet members have stopped using big jeeps. The government delegations will not stay at five star hotels. The federal government will cut its expenditures by 15 per cent. The government officers and ministers will travel on economy class ticket,” he said giving about details of the austerity drive roadmap.