ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha on Wednesday criticized a recent statement of International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief Nathan Porter and termed it an interference in Pakistan’s domestic political matters.
In a statement on Tuesday, Porter said the IMF hopes “a peaceful way forward is found in line with the Constitution and the rule of law”.
His comments come as the country still awaits the much-delayed signing of a staff-level agreement that would unlock $1.1 billion in financing for the cash-strapped nation as part of a $7bn IMF package.
Talking to reporters today, Dr Ghaus said: “Nathan Porters should not interfere in politically domestic matters. Secondly, I do not know what he has exactly said. Officially, we have not been communicated anything so we do not know.
When asked if the IMF official’s statement will be raised with the Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, she answered that the matter had not been deliberated upon.
While the IMF is preparing to discuss Pakistan’s budget plans for the coming financial year, Dr Ghaus said the finance ministry is preparing the budget considering that Pakistan is under an IMF programme and is “continuously engaged with it”.
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