Pak-IMF: Talks commence on targets, reforms

KARACHI: Pakistani officials on Wednesday began talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at getting agreement on enough reforms in the coming budget to restart a halted IMF bailout loan.

The meetings were moved to Dubai after Osama bin Laden’s death, when IMF refused to come to Pakistan. The two sides are expected to struggle to reach an accord on targets for the budget to cover the fiscal year that starts on July 1.

The talks are expected to last until May 17 and the budget is due to be unveiled on May 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2011.