WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistan expects to receive the next $1.2 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the end of December, following the anticipated approval of the agreement by the IMF Executive Board.
Aurangzeb is currently on an official visit to the United States, where he participated in 20 ministerial meetings and urged for the immediate operationalization of the “Loss and Damage Fund.”
During a meeting with International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Makhtar Diop, the finance minister expressed optimism that EXIM Bank would soon join the Reko Diq mining project.
He also held discussions with a senior delegation from JPMorgan, during which both sides emphasized the need to deepen bilateral cooperation and expand investment opportunities.
Addressing a press conference in Washington, Aurangzeb underlined that the IMF cannot impose any conditions that compromise Pakistan’s national interests. He highlighted that the economic reforms implemented under the IMF program have strengthened macroeconomic stability and are fully aligned with the country’s own policy priorities.
The finance minister further revealed that a trade and tariff agreement with the United States is likely to be finalized within one to two weeks. He added that the government is close to making a decision on the privatization of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
