IMF treating Pakistan like a ‘colony’: PML-N chief Maryam Nawaz

PML-N chief Maryam Nawaz mentioned that the IMF is treating Pakistan like a “colony”. She additionally castigated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan for flouting the earlier IMF settlement.

Lahore,UPDATED: Mar 14, 2023 22:46 IST

Maryam Nawaz drew the comparability of her father Nawaz Sharif’s authorities with that of Imran Khan, saying the latter was “launched to destroy the country”. (Image: Twitter)

By Press Trust of India: 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 mentioned whereas lambasting former prime minister Imran Khan for flouting the earlier agreements with the worldwide lender.

Pakistan’s financial system is in dire straits. The nation is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“The IMF is not ready to trust us. Pakistan is a hostage to the IMF and it is treating the country like a colony. Even if we try to come out of its clutches, we can’t,” Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) chief Maryam mentioned whereas addressing the youth and social media activists in Model Town right here on Monday.

She castigated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan for flouting the earlier IMF settlement, the Dawn newspaper reported.

“Because of this today we are begging for Rs 1 billion,” the 49-year-old chief mentioned.

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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 country”.

Maryam, who’s the daughter of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has launched a number of assaults on Khan for promoting off presents introduced to him when he was the prime minister and has accused him of pushing Pakistan to the brink of default.

She additionally mentioned Imran needs to be arrested.

“Why is he hiding behind the party workers? He again wants to become the prime minister. I ask what he has done that they (a reference to the establishment) make him prime minister again. Imran Khan tried to have the support of a few generals and judges. Now he is banking on the judiciary to return to power,” she mentioned.

Pakistan might want to pause debt repayments if it doesn’t safe funding from the IMF quickly sufficient.

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 assessment is at the moment 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 did not attain an settlement.

Pakistan, whose international trade has dropped under USD 3 billion, is in determined want of monetary help and a bailout package deal from the International Monetary Fund in an effort to keep away from an financial collapse.

The nation has applied a collection of coverage measures, together with elevated taxes, increased vitality costs and rising rates of interest to the very best in 25 years to unlock funding from its stalled IMF USD 7 billion mortgage programme.

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Published On:

Mar 14, 2023