–PML-N spokesperson says terms of proposed agreement with IMF should be made public
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan should “at least apologise to the nation” for taking U-turns as he had repeatedly claimed that his government will not seek an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package.
She was referring to PM Imran’s earlier statement when he had criticised the PML-N government and said that “it would be better to commit suicide than to beg from IMF”.
The PML-N leader said that the opposition does not, however, want the premier to commit suicide for “it is a sin”. She alleged that the “government is incompetent and is trying to put the weight of its incompetence on the people”.
Moreover, she claimed that her party had ended the programme with the IMF in 2015 in order to “lift the burden of inflation from the country” but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will now bring a “tsunami of inflation” for the people. They should at least be told how the prices for gas, electricity, and necessities will increase due to the bailout package, she demanded.
Further, she alleged that the premier did not have confidence in his own team so how is the nation expected to put their faith in his team. She claimed that the government was betraying the nation by concealing the terms of the proposed deal with the IMF. She inquired why the “false government” was hiding the terms.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan met with IMF chief Christine Lagarde at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Sunday.
The prime minister appreciated the IMF’s support to Pakistan and shared his vision for nation-building. He reiterated the government’s commitment to undertaking structural and governance reforms and for strengthening social protection in the country.
The IMF managing director acknowledged the steps taken so far by the Pakistan government for stabilising the economy and said the IMF will remain engaged in supporting Pakistan in sustaining its economic recovery.
The two sides agreed to work together on policy priorities and reforms aimed at reducing imbalances and laying the foundations of a job-creating growth path in Pakistan.
In this regard, deliberations between Pakistani authorities and IMF staff will continue to finalise an agreement on the contours of a programme.