Report: PTI Urges IMF To Consider Pakistan’s ‘Political Instability’ In Talks

(CTN News) – Imran Khan’s party has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to factor in the country’s “political instability” in any further bailout talks, two people familiar with the matter said.

According to two senior sources in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party has made its position known in a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and added that more details would be released in due course. An email sent by the IMF asking for a comment on the letter was not responded to, but Julie Kozack,

The IMF’s Director of Strategic Communications, addressed this issue during last week’s press briefing.

It was stated during the briefing that the IMF is looking forward “to working with the new government” in Pakistan. The lender would not comment on former prime minister Imran Khan’s intention to contact the lender over alleged rigging in elections in the country.

A lawyer for Imran Khan, Ali Zafar, said last week that the former prime minister would write to the International Monetary Fund. He would request it to conduct an independent audit of the controversial February 8 national elections before it continues negotiations with Islamabad.

The remarks followed Ali Zafar’s statement last week.

The party has since toned down its stance and said that Pakistan should continue its engagement with the IMF to ensure the discipline of the financial system, good governance, and economic stability in the country, all of which are critical for Pakistan’s prosperity.

There is currently a $3-billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) pending with the IMF for Pakistan, which has been extended for a further year. As of March, the programme is expected to be completed.

On the other hand, it was also reported that Pakistan was planning on seeking a new loan from the Fund of at least $6 billion in order to assist the incoming government in resolving billions of dollars of debt due this year.

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