First ever in the history of Pakistan, the Senate standing committee on finance, revenue and privatisation met the visiting delegation of International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday.
Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla led the committee members while Herald Finger represented the IMF delegation. The two sides discussed the IMF-Pakistan relationship and the on-going bailout programme of $6.6 billion under the Extended Finance Facility (EFF). They also discussed the privatisation programme and the important legislation done by the standing committee on finance and revenue.
In a meeting with the IMF delegation, the members of the senate committee questioned about the up-coming privatisation of the PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills, FESCO and State Life Insurance Company.
The members were of the view that Opposition parties in the Parliament of Pakistan were opposing the privatisation of profit-making public sector enterprises and were of the view that the government should focus on their revival before the privatisation and the IMF should not pressurise the government on important legislation.
Mandviwalla briefed the IMF delegation about the role of standing committee and its achievements. He informed the delegation about the committee’s pivotal role in important legislation.
In a statement issue from his office, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that Pakistan should not go for another IMF loan programme as Pakistan’s foreign debt had already increased by 100 percent in present government tenure.
He said Pakistan’s foreign reserves were stable but it could be made more strengthened by increasing its exports and tax net revenue.
Mandviwalla is of the view that international oil prices are golden opportunities for Pakistan. “Pakistan can use the opportunity to increase its exports which will improve foreign reserves. It will help Pakistan to repay loans without going to the IMF.” He said Pakistan could also increase its revenue by increasing tax net. “The FBR can use the tax data of 0.7 million available with the NADRA to increase the net. Increase in tax net will further boost the foreign reserves of the country to ease the loan repayments,” he suggested.
Senator Mohisn Laghari, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, Senator Kamil Ali agha and Senator Mohsin Aziz were also present during the meeting with the IMF delegation.
