ISLAMABAD : June 9,2023: Finance minister , Ishaq Dar , on Friday held the International Monetary Fund (IMF) responsible for Pakistan’s current financial meltdown and asked the media to question it as ti why Jr was delaying signing of agreement with Islamabad.
The minister made these assertions while talking in TV talk shows after presenting federal budget here. Ishaq Dar seems in very angry mood when the host anchor of the talk show asked him if he was confident of resumption of IMF programme after today’s budget.
The Finance minister in response to the question burst out in anger . He said its IMF which has devastated Pakistan’s economy by delaying the agreement for resumption of the programme for 9th review . Pakistan was expecting release of funds under IMF programme some times in February this year but there is inordinate delay in signing of the agreement by the fund .Pakistan’s policy makers believe that IMF was penalising Islamabad through delaying the agreement for resumption of its programme . Pakistani authorities also have developed strong feelings that IMF was playing a dirty game by delaying the agreement and its sole purpose is to bring Pakistan’s economy to the knees.
Recent IMF demands like fulfil legal and constitutional requirements in handling the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leadership had strengthen Pakistan’s doubt that IMF has some political agenda to attach with its plan to release the funds to Islamabad under 9th review. Ishaq Dar’s outburst on Friday during a TV show shows the same feelings about IMF and it’s conditions for release of installment under its suspended programme. Ishaq Dar asked the media to question IMF over inordinate delay in signing the agreement with Pakistan for the release of funds. Ishaq Dar said its the job of the media to question IMF over delay in release of funds to Pakistan.
Ishaq Dar claimed that Pakistan’s currency is under pressure due to non committal of IMF in release of its fund fo Pakistan. He said Pakistan is a victim of regional politics . His comment was clearly towards IMF. He ,however , refrained himself from further bashing of IMF saying he can not speak on camera on this issue .
