<table style="float: left; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://static.gujaratsamachar.com/content_image/content_image_0bf9c9e1-df24-40df-b2dc-fb296747cf4d.jpeg" data-filename="Pakistan IMF.jpg" style="width: 100%;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="display: flex;justify-content: center;scale: 0.8;">IMF, Pakistan</td></tr></tbody></table> The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given its approval for a $7 billion bailout package for Pakistan under its Extended Funding Facility (EFF), giving a positive breather to the country’s crippling economy.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, confirmed that the Executive Board of the IMF approved the 37-month EFF of $7 billion, making it the 25th IMF programme that Pakistan has obtained since 1958 and the sixth EFF facility.The approval of $7 billion bailout package, coupled with tough conditions by the IMF, has also come with an immediate release of $1.1 billion as part of the first loan tranche.Talking about the IMF bailout package approval, Sharif said confidently that it would be Pakistan’s last IMF programme, giving the credit to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and his finance team.“Without the cooperation of all four provinces, the federal government cannot complete the 25th programme in the nation's history,” said the Pakistani PM.As per details of the bailout package, Pakistan has promised an overhaul in its agricultural income tax, transfer of some fiscal responsibilities to provinces and agreed to limit subsidies. Pakistan will be paying about five per cent interest rate for the IMF loan.While the IMF bailout is a sigh of relief for Pakistan and its weakened economy, it brings new challenges for the government. Experts say that the IMF has approved the programme without addressing the root causes of taking these loans.“In the previous fiscal year, Pakistan consumed 81% of its tax revenue due to failure to restructure its external and domestic debts. This is critical for the country’s growth and economic progress. And, as IMF ignored it in approval of the programme, it would certainly raise its concerns over the passage of 37 months and keep the government under severe check,” said economist Shahbaz Rana.“The PM said this package would be Pakistan's last. This claim is hard to believe because a similar statement was given by him when he acquired the 24th IMF programme in 2023,” added Rana.As far as Pakistan's external debts are concerned, Islamabad has committed that it would not repay the $12.7 billion debt to Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait during the 37-month programme period.The commitments Pakistan has made to the IMF are no less than an uphill task for the Sharif government going forward. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said that it would be difficult for Pakistan to implement the reforms it has committed to deliver to the IMF.One major factor highlighted by the ADB is the persistently volatile political instability and institutional tensions prevailing in the country.(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given its approval for a $7 billion bailout package for Pakistan under its Extended Funding Facility (EFF), giving a positive breather to the country’s crippling economy.

International-Monetary-Fund

Pakistan

Coupled with tough conditions, IMF approves $7bn bailout package for Pakistan

CATEGORIES

CITY NEWS