Interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs not IMF’s mandate
Dr. Pasha
Interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan is not within the mandate of the IMF.Dr. Pasha criticises the International Monetary Fund for its intervention and asserts that Pakistan’s behaviour is in accordance with the law.Aisha Ghaus Pasha, the State Minister for Finance and Revenue of Pakistan, criticised Nathan Porter, the Mission Chief for Pakistan of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for making comments on Pakistan’s political situation. She stated that it is not within the mission of the Fund to interfere in the internal affairs of a country’s lending institution.
Pakistan’s behaviour
Dr Pasha stated that Pakistan’s behaviour “is in line with the law,” in response to Porter’s statement regarding the current political climate, which he described as “extraordinary.”Porter had said that the Fund hopes “a peaceful way forward is found in line with the Constitution and the rule of law.” Despite the fact that the IMF does not comment on domestic politics, this is what Porter had said.The state minister expressed the hope that both parties would be able to reach a staff-level agreement before the announcement of the federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, which is slated to be made on June 9.
Kristalina Georgieva
The state minister stated that the delay is neither beneficial for Pakistan nor the Fund.It has been reported that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva. Dr. Pasha has confirmed these allegations, and he has added that the Prime Minister reassured the head of the fund that Pakistan will fulfil all of its obligations.In response to a question regarding Pakistan’s plan of action in the event that it fails to convince the fund before the expiration of the programme on June 30, the minister stated that.
Ministry of Finance
The Ministry of Finance is not sitting with its eyes closed,” adding that “there is always a Plan B,” but that “our priority is to revive the IMF programme.”Because this would be a “election year budget,” the state minister reassured the populace that the finance bill will work towards the goal of delivering relief to the people. The minister was commenting on the forthcoming budget.Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Minister of Finance, stated on Sunday that Pakistan will provide the fund with specifics regarding its budget.
IMF
In addition, he expressed his hope that the IMF will complete its ninth assessment prior to the presentation of the budget at the beginning of June, as all of the prerequisites for this achievement had already been satisfied.”They have asked for some more things again, and we are ready to give that too, they say that give us budget details, and we will give it to them,” Dar stated in an interview with Geo News. “We are ready to give that too.”In reference to the subsequent reviews, he stated that it would not be beneficial for Pakistan if the IMF combined the ninth and tenth assessments of the bailout, and he added, “We will not do it, (we) see this (as) unfair.”
