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NEW DELHI: The International Monetary Fund on Friday declined former Prime Minister Imran Khan‘s request to link its economic assistance with an audit on the recent general elections in Pakistan.
According to Geo News, the Washington-based global lender confirmed that it had received the letter sent on Imran Kahn’s behalf but gave a cold shoulder to his demand for an election audit.
In a statement the IMF spokesperson said,” The IMF, as an international institution with a narrow mandate on economic issues, does not comment on domestic political developments. However, given the importance of the institutional environment for economic stability and growth, we do encourage the fair and peaceful resolution of all electoral disputes.”
IMF further said that its engagement with Pakistan is focused on helping the government implement strong policies to deepen financial stability, address the longstanding economic and underlying balance of payments challenges, and restore sustained and inclusive growth for the benefit of all Pakistani citizens.
“This includes stronger public finances, through high-quality revenue measures to broaden the tax base while scaling up the support for the most vulnerable, restoring energy sector viability, improving institutional governance and anti-corruption effectiveness, SOE reform, building climate resilience, and creating a level playing field for private businesses to promote investment and job creation,” Geo News said quoting the IMF statement.
The spokesperson said that keeping the above objectives in mind, the lender looks forward to “engaging with to complete the second review under the ongoing Stand by Arrangement (SBA) and support the development of a new medium-term economic program if the government requests it.
The statement in response to the letter by an IMF spokesperson came hours after the global lender’s Communications Department Director Julie Kozack during a press briefing in Washington, DC shared that the Fund is set to dispatch its mission to Pakistan following the formation of a new cabinet.
Commenting on the IMF mission’s arrival in Pakistan, she said: “The IMF stands ready to hold a mission for the second review of the Stand-by shortly after a new cabinet is formed.”
The letter addressed to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Imran Khan urged him to “audit” at least 30 per cent of the national and provincial assembly seats to expose the brazen “intervention and fraud” during the February 8 general election before any further bailout talks with cash-strapped nation.
According to reports, it is speculated that the new government would seek fresh loan of about 6 billion dollars from the organization in order to address the issue of balance of payments.
According to Geo News, the Washington-based global lender confirmed that it had received the letter sent on Imran Kahn’s behalf but gave a cold shoulder to his demand for an election audit.
In a statement the IMF spokesperson said,” The IMF, as an international institution with a narrow mandate on economic issues, does not comment on domestic political developments. However, given the importance of the institutional environment for economic stability and growth, we do encourage the fair and peaceful resolution of all electoral disputes.”
IMF further said that its engagement with Pakistan is focused on helping the government implement strong policies to deepen financial stability, address the longstanding economic and underlying balance of payments challenges, and restore sustained and inclusive growth for the benefit of all Pakistani citizens.
“This includes stronger public finances, through high-quality revenue measures to broaden the tax base while scaling up the support for the most vulnerable, restoring energy sector viability, improving institutional governance and anti-corruption effectiveness, SOE reform, building climate resilience, and creating a level playing field for private businesses to promote investment and job creation,” Geo News said quoting the IMF statement.
The spokesperson said that keeping the above objectives in mind, the lender looks forward to “engaging with to complete the second review under the ongoing Stand by Arrangement (SBA) and support the development of a new medium-term economic program if the government requests it.
The statement in response to the letter by an IMF spokesperson came hours after the global lender’s Communications Department Director Julie Kozack during a press briefing in Washington, DC shared that the Fund is set to dispatch its mission to Pakistan following the formation of a new cabinet.
Commenting on the IMF mission’s arrival in Pakistan, she said: “The IMF stands ready to hold a mission for the second review of the Stand-by shortly after a new cabinet is formed.”
The letter addressed to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Imran Khan urged him to “audit” at least 30 per cent of the national and provincial assembly seats to expose the brazen “intervention and fraud” during the February 8 general election before any further bailout talks with cash-strapped nation.
According to reports, it is speculated that the new government would seek fresh loan of about 6 billion dollars from the organization in order to address the issue of balance of payments.
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