KARACHI – The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a meeting withbrokerage houses, has ruled out the possibility that it would deny Pakistana bailout package under US influence.

“The IMF said it is ready to enter into discussion with Pakistan for a[possible] bailout package,” an economist of a leading securities brokeragehouse said after attending the meeting with IMF Resident RepresentativeTeresa Daban Sanchez on Friday.

Another brokerage house economist said the meeting highlighted the limitedvoting power of the US (16.7%) for approving or disapproving Pakistan’spotential request to the IMF Executive Board for a new programme.

Replying to a question, Sanchez said the objective of establishing the IMFwas to help nations come out of financial crisis so that the global economykept on advancing.

“This is not possible, a patient is dying and doctors will not make effortsto save him,” a meeting participant quoted Sanchez as saying.

“The US may, however, influence the conditions on which loan may be givenand the two sides [Pakistan and the IMF] may disagree on the conditions,”he said.