PM Shehbaz Confirms Final Stages of IMF Agreement, Thanks China, Saudi Arabia, and UAE
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Tuesday that Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in the final stages of approval, with all conditions met, including several tough ones.
“There is an IMF board meeting tomorrow, and we have fulfilled all their conditions which were very strict,” the prime minister said while speaking to reporters after attending the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Acknowledgment of Support from Key Allies
PM Shehbaz expressed deep gratitude towards China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, acknowledging their critical support in securing the IMF deal. He revealed that some of the IMF’s conditions were linked to China, which once again “held hands and cooperated” with Pakistan during the economic crisis.
China, in particular, has consistently supported Pakistan, according to the premier. The final approval of the IMF loan is expected following a meeting of the IMF executive board, as per sources within Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance.
Economic Recovery and Challenges Overcome
PM Shehbaz emphasized that his government had accepted the tough economic challenges facing Pakistan. Thanks to the collective efforts of the government and institutions, the prime minister stated that economic indicators are gradually improving with continuous effort and hard work.
PM Shehbaz Congratulates Turkish President Erdogan
During the UNGA session, PM Shehbaz had a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he congratulated on his powerful address that focused on the ongoing Palestinian crisis.
The prime minister praised President Erdogan’s speech, saying, “The way the Turkish President highlighted the issue touched the hearts of all those listening to him in the Assembly hall.”
Erdogan’s Emotional Address on Gaza Crisis
In his impassioned speech, President Erdogan criticized Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip and called for an “alliance of humanity” to halt the aggression. He also accused the Western world and the UN system of failing to uphold justice amid the conflict.
“Along with children in Gaza, the United Nations system is also dying, the truth is dying, the values that the West claims to defend are dying, and the hopes of humanity to live in a fairer world are dying one by one,” Erdogan remarked.
Brotherly Relations Between Pakistan and Turkey
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the “brotherly relations” between Pakistan and Turkey and shared that President Erdogan is expected to visit Pakistan soon.