Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that even at the time of Standby Arrangement (SBA), there was noise that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not approve the agreement. There will be no approval, as in the past, the IMF board will approve the program this time as well.
While talking informally to journalists in Islamabad, he said that there were positive discussions for the provision of funds from commercial banks, the response of commercial banks is positive due to improvement in rating by international agencies.
The Minister of Finance said that discussions are ongoing with Dubai Islamic and Al-Mashriq Bank, last week the discussion with the Saudi Minister of Finance was also positive, the response of China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is positive. MF) will be taken into confidence.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said that Pakistan needs external financing of 3 billion dollars in 37 months of the IMF program, this year Pakistan needs external financing of 2 billion dollars.
He said that even at the time of Standby Arrangement (SBA) noise was made that the IMF would not approve, even now such noise is being made that the staff level agreement will not be approved. The Board will approve the program.
He said that he is hopeful that the board of the IMF will approve in September, talks are being held with the IMF every other day, the government is determined to collect taxes from the traders.
He said that he will also provide facilities by taking tax from the traders, he has taken all the stakeholders into confidence to collect tax from the traders and is taking them into confidence.
It should be noted that 2 days ago, while speaking at the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, the Federal Finance Minister had said that wrong information is being spread in some circles regarding the International Monetary Fund program. The program is expected to be approved by the MF Executive Board.
The finance minister said that the process of discussion with the IMF is going on and the issues that have been decided with the International Monetary Fund are being worked on while the government is working to meet the requirements of the IMF.