Once Riyadh and Abu Dhabi affirm their financial support for the IMF deal

The finance minister assures ambassadors that the IMF problems will be resolved quickly.
Since the finance minister said an agreement would be reached with the IMF, at least 46 days had elapsed.
Government’s announcement of cross-fuel subsidies has angered the bureaucracy.

ISLAMABAD: According to reports cited by The News, the staff level agreement (SLA) between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) won’t be signed unless the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) affirm their financial assistance.

The staff level agreement will be inked with the IMF as soon as the IMF receives support confirmation from the KSA and UAE, sources told the magazine.

The News further stated that the concerns with the IMF would be resolved shortly after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar assured diplomats in Islamabad over an Iftar meal on Sunday.

The review negotiations between the IMF and Pakistan ended on February 9 here in Islamabad, and despite the fact that it has been nearly 46 days, the finance minister declared the next day that virtual negotiations had started and that the staff-level agreement will be completed soon. Nevertheless, although 46 days having passed, it has not yet been secured.

Because of the timing of the release, there have been divergent opinions on the subject of cross-fuel subsidies inside the Finance Ministry. How the ministry will satisfy the international lender about the subsidies is still unknown.

The deadline for the tenth review was February 3 of this year.

Although the 11th review is expected on May 3, it is unclear how both parties will proceed even with the programme’s reactivation.

The deadline for the tenth review was February 3 of this year.

Although the 11th review is expected on May 3, it is unclear how both parties will proceed even with the programme’s reactivation.