Lahore: Pakistan is a “hostage” to the IMF which is treating the cash-strapped nation like a “colony”, senior chief of PML-N Maryam Nawaz has stated whereas lambasting former prime minister Imran Khan for flouting the earlier agreements with the worldwide lender. Pakistan’s economic system is in dire straits and the nation is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF).
“The IMF shouldn’t be able to belief us. Pakistan is a hostage to the IMF and it’s treating the nation like a colony. Even when we attempt to come out of its clutches, we won’t,” Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) chief Maryam stated whereas addressing the youth and social media activists in Mannequin City right here on Monday.
She castigated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan for flouting the earlier IMF settlement, the Daybreak newspaper reported.
“Due to this in the present day we’re begging for Rs 1 billion,” the 49-year-old chief stated.
She drew the comparability of her father Nawaz Sharif’s authorities with that of Khan, saying the cricketer-turned-politician was “launched to destroy the nation”.
Maryam, who’s the daughter of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has launched a number of assaults on Khan for promoting off presents offered to him when he was the prime minister and has accused him of pushing Pakistan to the brink of default.
She additionally stated Imran ought to be arrested.
“Why is he hiding behind the celebration staff? He once more needs to grow to be the prime minister. I ask what he has accomplished that they (a reference to the institution) make him prime minister once more. Imran Khan tried to have the assist of some generals and judges. Now he’s banking on the judiciary to return to energy,” she stated.
Pakistan entered a USD 6 billion IMF programme throughout Khan’s authorities in 2019, which was elevated to USD 7 billion final 12 months.
The programme’s ninth evaluate is presently pending with talks being held between IMF officers and the federal government for the discharge of USD 1.1 billion.
Pakistan and the IMF have been holding digital talks after the 2 sides held 10 days of intensive negotiations with an IMF delegation in Islamabad from January 31 to February 9, which didn’t attain an settlement.
Pakistan, whose international alternate has dropped beneath USD 3 billion, is in determined want of economic help and a bailout bundle from the Worldwide Financial Fund with a view to keep away from an financial collapse.
