ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that seeking a new program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is crucial for bolstering Pakistan’s economy.
‘With the new IMF program, international institutions will place more trust in us, enabling us to advance our agenda of development and prosperity with greater confidence,’ stated the premier while addressing the federal cabinet.
PM Sharif mentioned that the finance minister would be attending the IMF spring meetings in Washington this month, where discussions regarding the new program would take place.
Despite acknowledging the anticipated challenges of the new deal, he assured that the government would strive to alleviate the burden on the less privileged, shifting it towards the affluent.
Shehbaz Sharif hoped that after the IMF board meeting, the last tranche of the existing standby agreement worth $1.1 billion would be disbursed to Pakistan this month.
The Prime Minister also provided updates on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) divestment process. He confirmed the scheduled arrival of a Turkish company in Islamabad on April 6 to negotiate airport outsourcing.
Regarding the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the premier announced plans to appoint consultants by month-end. He highlighted his recent chairing of a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) meeting, during which sector-specific issues were discussed, emphasizing his personal oversight to address sectoral challenges and streamline the economy.
Addressing concerns raised by the Islamabad High Court judges, Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the formation of an inquiry commission led by former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, later substituted by a suo motu notice from the Supreme Court. He also assured a thorough investigation into the recent receipt of letters containing suspicious powder by judges.
Ensuring the security of Chinese workers and engineers, the PM reiterated the government’s commitment to evolving a robust security system. Moreover, he briefed the cabinet on various policy statements and reports presented, including approvals for diplomatic honors and organizational restructuring.
The cabinet approved recommendations for the National Commission for the Status of Women and endorsed the abolition of certain departments under the Ministry of Human Rights, citing the establishment of the National Commission on the Rights of Child as rendering them redundant in alignment with government austerity measures.
