LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his optimism regarding Pakistan’s chances of striking a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this month, saying that the government has accepted all the conditions of the global lender and implemented them.
The prime minister made these remarks while addressing an inauguration ceremony of a Sports Complex here on Sunday.
PM Shehbaz regretted that the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rescinded its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which led to “dire economic situation”.
calling his telephonic conversation with the international lender’s Managing Director (MD), the prime minister expressed confidence that the IMF’s 9th review would “sooner or later be approved” as they had met all the demands.
However, the premier said if the agreement is delayed further due to ‘any reason’, he will apprise the nation.
Holding PTI responsible for the current economic crises, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the previous rulers ‘deliberately’ did not procure gas which, according to him, was available at cheaper rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The previous rulers failed to provide relief to the people of Pakistan,” he said, adding that their ‘only focus’ was to put their opposition behind bars. “They (PTI rulers) could have averted the current economic crises by taking some relief measures instead of putting the opposition behind bars,” he added.
