Pakistan absent from IMF board agenda
The mission chief said there was agreement on the need to secure sufficient financing to support the authorities’ implementation efforts. PHOTO: AFP
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Executive Board on Monday revealed its calendar, outlining meetings until December 14, with Pakistan's case conspicuously absent from the agenda.
The schedule has raised eyebrows as the country’s case finds no mention on the agenda.
Previously, the finance ministry had anticipated a meeting of the IMF's Executive Board on December 7 to ratify the staff-level agreement (SLA) with Pakistan. The endorsement aimed to release the subsequent tranche of $700 million within the $3 billion standby arrangement allocated to the country.
Sources within the finance ministry had hinted at ongoing discussions for a prospective new loan program with the IMF. Simultaneously, measures were being prepared to potentially hike electricity and gas prices ahead of the IMF Executive Board meeting.
However, after the release of the schedule, officials from the finance ministry said a staff agreement between Pakistan and the IMF has been settled, meaning that the country could be included in the executive board's agenda at any point.