US backs Pakistan’s efforts for IMF deal

US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said on Tuesday that Washington fully supported Pakistan in its efforts for resuming the stalled $6.5 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Blome noted significant progress in the bilateral relations. He said that Pakistan faced threats of terrorism and assured that Washington was ready to help Islamabad overcome this challenge.

Read more: Government plods towards IMF deal

Pakistan and the IMF have been in talks over a stalled bailout package since late last year, with Pakistan seeking a $1.1bn tranche to address its worsening balance of payments crisis.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said last week that Pakistan would strike the staff-level agreement with the IMF in a few days, as the government remained committed to completing the $6.5b loan programme.

Blome said that the United States was ready to cooperate with Pakistan to help it in the revival of the IMF programme. He expressed the hope that matters between the two sides “will be settled in a few days”.

At the event, PARC in collaboration with US launched $4.5 million “Fertiliser Right Project”, aimed at enhancing fertiliser use efficiency through innovative practices as well as addressing the climate, environmental and economic challenges.

Also read: PM accuses Imran of obstructing IMF deal

As part of the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework, the project prioritises cooperation to overcome agricultural challenges caused by climate change, with a shared objective of reducing carbon emissions that contributed to climate change.

The launching ceremony was held at National Agriculture Research Center, which was attended by the Ambassador of United States to Pakistan, Donald Blome and the Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali.

Speaking on the occasion PARC Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali said that the US and Pakistan were committed to building a sustainable future, supporting farmers and communities to overcome the complex environmental challenges of the future.

He lauded the support extended by the United States to the agricultural sector of Pakistan for decades and also highlighted various collaborative initiatives between USDA and PARC.