Is PM happy with IMF deal?

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Pakistan has reached on an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the 22nd bailout programme amid reports claiming that Prime Minister Imran Khan is concerned over the conditions put forth by the international lender.

Experts suggest that the bailout package on such conditions – hike in power tariffs and withdrawal of tax concessions – will take a toll on middle and lower income groups, which might erode Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) popular support.

Also, he has already been under fire for appointing former IMF official Reza Baqir to head the central bank. His finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Sheikh was also part of the World Bank. Appointment of these two officials draws the opposition’s ire time and again.

On Saturday, the premier reportedly expressed displeasure with the way the deal was going on and summoned a meeting of the finance ministry officials to brief him on the parley.

However, Pakistan had no choice but to concede to the IMF’s demands to secure the loan. According to reports, this deal had cost Asad Umar his finance portfolio.