Govt Takes A Back Seat On IMF Deal After Chinese Aid Comes Through

Govt Takes A Back Seat On IMF Deal After Chinese Aid Comes Through
The government has decided that there will be no deal with IMF and it's working on a narrative that the international lender has been turned away due to its tough conditions.

This is why there's speculation that the Fund wants to impose conditions on the nuclear programme, too.

The government now seems to think that the country won't default now since the Chinese aid has arrived, said Mosharraf Zaidi while speaking during Naya Daur TV programme Khabar Say Aagay.

He urged the premier, COAS, Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and other influential to show flexibility for the country and let the situation improve.

Analyst Zaigham Khan said the government is left with only one option, which is to delay elections and give Imran Khan and his party a hard time.

"They are apparently planning to put the Constitution behind and that would be dangerous."

He observed that the establishment is currently in its weakest position as public opinion is not in their favour.

Journalist Shahbaz Rana said Pakistan has been unable to get $6 billon from the UAE, Dubai, and Qatar, with the reason being no agreement with the IMF.

Pakistan is struggling to avoid a default and is in a desperate need of an economic lifeline through bailout funds from the IMF and has an urgent need to repay approximately $3 billion of debt by June, with an expected rollover of $4 billion.

However, what stands between Pakistan and the $1.1 billion loan tranche is IMF’s new demand of seeking written guarantees from bilateral partners to provide financing subsequent to the fund’s disbursement.

These countries include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. They have already provided assistance in recent months by rolling over debts, providing dollar deposits, and granting oil on credit.

The programme was moderated by Raza Rumi and Murtaza Solangi.

Flagship Naya Daur TV show Khabar Say Aagay streams Monday to Saturday at 9pm