IMF refutes imposition of conditions regarding nuclear program

Conversations centered on economic solutions as per mandate to promote financial stability, Esther Perez Ruiz

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has refuted assertions that it had imposed any conditions on the renewal of a bailout that had been halted for months despite weeks of negotiations between the two parties about the nuclear programme.

Pakistan barely has enough foreign exchange reserves to handle one month’s worth of imports since the lender has yet to sanction the transfer of the $1.1 billion that was initially scheduled to be distributed in November of last year.

Experienced PPP’s lawmakers Senator Raza Rabbani and PTI’s former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have expressed worries about whether the country’s strategic assets, like as the nuclear and missile programs, were to blame for the delay in the staff-level agreement with the Fund.

IMF resident official Esther Perez Ruiz in Islamabad denied placing conditions on the External Fund Facility (EFF) in a statement made available to the media on Sunday.

“Regarding recent speculation that programme discussions with the authorities for the ninth review under the IMF-supported programme may have covered Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, I want to be categoric that there is absolutely no truth to this or any insinuated link between the past or current IMF supported programme and decision by any Pakistani government over its nuclear programme,” the official said.

According to the IMF’s mandate to promote macroeconomic and financial stability, the conversations have only been centered on economic solutions to address Pakistan’s challenges with its economy and balance of payments, the IMF head continued.