US reportedly takes a foreign and economic policy shift towards Pakistan: Report
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ISLAMABAD - United States has reportedly taken a foriegn and economic policy shift vis a vis Pakistan.
As per media report, Trump administration has softened its viewpoint for Pakistan’ expected bailout package from International Monetary Fund (IMF), a top official at Finance Ministry told The News.
Earlier, the US wanted IMF to impose strict terms and conditions on Pakistan for $6-7 billion bailout package, but with recent letter of US President to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking Pakistan role in bringing Taliban at dialogue table has changed the scene as Premier Imran Khan had responded positively and announced to play his role in Afghan peace.
Earlier, Pakistan’s financial managers had a plan to initiate economic diplomacy with the US to help soften terms and conditions IMF authorities had placed before financial managers’ team of PTI government.
At the beginning, the Fund had asked PTI government to bring down budget deficit to just over 2.5 percent of the GDP in next three years knowing the fact at present the fiscal deficit hovers at 6.6 percent of the GDP.
This condition was tough and now IMF authorities have stated to be showing flexibility in the said demand, but the official said that exact figure about the fiscal deficit is yet to be finalised. To a question the official said that Pakistan and IMF have substantially made progress positively and the bailout package would be inked sometime in the month of January.
