PM lauds COAS help in securing financing

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday lauded Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir's efforts for securing financial commitments from friendly countries, one of the last conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for restoring its lending.

Addressing a meeting of the coalition parties, Shehbaz said that the IMF agreement was in its final phase. “The army chief made immense efforts in this regard [securing financial commitments from friendly countries],” he said.

The prime minister's statement came days after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had assured the IMF of a $1 billion loan to Islamabad. Saudi Arabia had already guaranteed a $2 billion loan.

The prime minister appreciated the efforts of Finance Minister Dar as well as Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who, he said, burnt midnight oil for the success of the negotiations with the IMF.

“The final condition of the IMF was that the friendly countries deposit money as guarantors,” Shehbaz said expressing his hope that the deal with the IMF would be concluded soon.

“We will not abandon ship in the middle of the sea, rather, it will be sailed ashore,” Shehbaz said about the economic difficulties because of the delay in the IMF deal. “I am sure, with the Allah’s help, victory will surely come and our problems will be mitigated.”

Shehbaz pointed out that the incumbent ruling coalition had been in the office for one year now. There was a general impression that this alliance would last long but the government of the coalition parties faced crises together, he added.

“These stages are also a testimony that the allies are trying to get the country out of the problems. All the allies have always played a positive role. The government would not have succeeded without the support of the allies,” he continued.

The prime minister acknowledged that there was difference of opinion among the coalition partners. “Sometimes we concurred [with the other side] and sometimes we persuaded. This is the beauty of democracy,” he said.

In the meeting Shehbaz also informed the participants about his upcoming telephonic conversation with new Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the last week of April in which they would discuss matters of mutual interest.

Referring to the ongoing controversy regarding the Supreme Court verdict on general elections in Punjab, the prime minister said that nowhere in the world had it ever happened that a court stayed the implementation of a law even before its promulgation.

He said the decision of the three-member bench prompted the bar councils to raise their voice for sake of the rule of law as they also believed that the decision was contrary to the norms of the justice.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)