Pakistan criticizes IMF for interference in internal affairs
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has criticized the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for interfering in the country’s internal affairs.
Junior Minister for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha called the statement by IMF mission chief in Pakistan Nathan Porter on the political situation in the country “extraordinary.”
She said Pakistan’s behavior was under the law.
Porter had said his organization was taking note of recent political developments in Pakistan.
He said he hoped a peaceful path would be found in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.
Pakistan has been in considerable political turmoil since the overthrow of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last year.
The situation deteriorated further after Khan’s arrest on May 9, leading to violent protests and the burning of government and military installations.
The country’s civilian and military authorities have launched a crackdown on the former prime minister’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
The Pakistani minister said “interference” in Pakistan’s internal affairs was not part of the IMF mandate.
She said any delay in the $6.5 billion loan program signed in 2019 is neither in the interest of Pakistan nor the IMF.
The global lending agency has yet to release about $1.2 billion to support Pakistan’s ailing economy since November last year. The agency program is expiring on June 30.
Pakistan is in a severe economic crisis, with foreign exchange reserves dwindling and the national currency rapidly losing value.
The minister confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reached out to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and reassured her that Pakistan would fulfill all its obligations.
Pasha said the government has designed an alternate plan in case IMF program is now revived by June 30.
She, however, emphasized that their priority was to revive the IMF program. She said that a delay in reaching an agreement would be detrimental to the interests of both Pakistan and the IMF.
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