The International Monetary Fund has okayed the release of $ 131 million US in credit for Pakistan as the country has met most of the targets laid down by the trade body in a programme put in place last year.
The executive board of the IMF decided on the credit package after it completed the second review under the stand-by arrangement for Pakistan.
It has so far drawn $ 324.6 million under the stand-by agreement signed on November 29 last year against a maximum limit of 596 dollars.
Deputy managing director and acting chairman of the board Eduardo Aninat said that Pakistan's achievements under the programme supported by the stand-by arrangement have been encouraging. The authorities have made a determined effort to implement the programme and most of the programme targets have been achieved.
“ Inflation has been better than expected and the budget deficit remains in line with programme assumptions. Economic activity was somewhat lower than expected because of severe drought, and this has contributed to lower-than-expected tax revenues and a weaker external balance ’’, Mr. Aninat said.
Aninat said that the implementation of important structural reforms has been well on track.
Bureau Report