Dar evades questions on IMF, budget

Finance Minister loses his cool upon robust questioning by journalist

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday lost his temper after he was questioned whether the government had “failed” to obtain loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The finance minister was responding to media after attending an event in the federal capital.

Dar was asked whether the government had failed in reaching an agreement with the global money lender. He was questioned if the country had defaulted.

Ishaq Dar's finance minister became extremely angry in response to the question, "Couldn't you manage the economy?" and replied, "Has Pakistan defaulted?"#ishaqdar #IMF #government pic.twitter.com/Gtk6LWYw6f

— Hammad Hassan (@Hammadviews) May 29, 2023

“Pakistan has not yet defaulted. [We are] making international payments,” Dar replied.

The finance czar was further asked if the government was not able to manage the economy as it was “confronted with a difficult economic situation for the first time”.

A visible upset and angry finance minister replied, “Give the decision you want to you. I will see you later”.

Dar evaded questions on IMF and the upcoming budget and hurriedly left the scene after boarding his car.

A day earlier, the finance minister said that Pakistan would share its upcoming budget details with the IMF in order to unlock stalled funds.

Hopes for a resumption of an IMF deal are diminishing, analysts say, with a bailout programme agreed in 2019 due to expire on June 30 at the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Dar said he would like the IMF to clear its 9th review before the budget, which is due to be presented in early June, as all the conditions for that had already been met.