Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised a "very friendly nation" for extending assistance to the country prior to the finalisation of a deal with the IMF amidst a critical financial crisis.
"Without naming [them] that there is an extremely friendly country, we all thought that they were waiting for the IMF agreement to play their role but they conveyed a few days ago that they were giving us [the financial aid] straight away," he said while addressing Apex Committee meeting in Islamabad on Friday.
"These things can never be forgotten," he said adding, "There are many such sincere contributions of theirs in the past, too, for Pakistan."
PM Shehbaz, however, did not reveal the country or other details of the much-needed financial aid.
He further said that the negotiations with the IMF will be finalised in about seven to 10 days.
On Wednesday, the premier announced sweeping austerity measures for his Cabinet to deal with the current situation, saying the step would help save Rs200 billion annually.
He told media that ministers, state ministers, and special advisers to him had “willingly” decided to forego their salaries and perks, adding the ministers will also pay their telephone, electricity, water, and gas bills from their pocket.
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He had also asked the judiciary and the chief ministers of the provinces to implement similar steps in their respective jurisdictions.
On the talks with international lender, he had said these were in a final phase. "We are working to enter a formal deal soon’.
Meanwhile, the Fund has reportedly asked Pakistan to grant subsidies to those who actually need them, stressing that resources should be transferred from the wealthy and affluent to the underprivileged.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expressed the views while giving an interview to an international broadcaster.
Georgieva was quoted as saying that Pakistan should maintain its ability to function as a country and avoid falling into a dangerous situation that would require debt restructuring.
"Without naming [them] that there is an extremely friendly country, we all thought that they were waiting for the IMF agreement to play their role but they conveyed a few days ago that they were giving us [the financial aid] straight away," he said while addressing Apex Committee meeting in Islamabad on Friday.
"These things can never be forgotten," he said adding, "There are many such sincere contributions of theirs in the past, too, for Pakistan."
PM Shehbaz, however, did not reveal the country or other details of the much-needed financial aid.
He further said that the negotiations with the IMF will be finalised in about seven to 10 days.
On Wednesday, the premier announced sweeping austerity measures for his Cabinet to deal with the current situation, saying the step would help save Rs200 billion annually.
He told media that ministers, state ministers, and special advisers to him had “willingly” decided to forego their salaries and perks, adding the ministers will also pay their telephone, electricity, water, and gas bills from their pocket.
Read this too: Beyond Default: Tehran via Washington
He had also asked the judiciary and the chief ministers of the provinces to implement similar steps in their respective jurisdictions.
On the talks with international lender, he had said these were in a final phase. "We are working to enter a formal deal soon’.
Meanwhile, the Fund has reportedly asked Pakistan to grant subsidies to those who actually need them, stressing that resources should be transferred from the wealthy and affluent to the underprivileged.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expressed the views while giving an interview to an international broadcaster.
Georgieva was quoted as saying that Pakistan should maintain its ability to function as a country and avoid falling into a dangerous situation that would require debt restructuring.