KARACHI: Shaukat Tarin, the Prime Minister’s Finance Advisor, stated on Sunday that the administration will offer the people “positive news” about the stalled $6 billion IMF programme “soon.”
Tarin claimed the IMF wants to announce the contract on its own at a foundation stone laying ceremony for a hospital in Karachi’s Naya Nazimabad.
He said that discussions had gone “far better” this time around than in March, and that the government has even refused to accept some IMF terms. IMF programmes, he noted, are “severe” on nations.
Pakistan can also expect a $3 billion financial aid package from Saudi Arabia “in the coming days,” according to the PM’s adviser.
Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press on Thursday that after the Royal Court approves the pledged financial assistance and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed in a few days, Saudi Arabia will soon disburse cash deposits to Pakistan.
“Insha Allah, this will happen shortly.” The Royal Court will approve, and the MoU for payment, as well as the deferred oil payment [facility], will be inked in a few days,” the Saudi ambassador added.