ISLAMABAD – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has turned down a request made by Pakistan to relax requirement of arranging $6 billion in new loans for revival of the bailout package, Minister of State for Finance Dr Aisha Pasha told a committee of the National Assembly.
Pasha gave a policy statement during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, he said there was no option other than reviving the loan programme stalled since September last year.
She revealed Pakistan had requested the global lender to lower the requirement of arranging the $6 billion external financing based on latest account deficit data, but the IMF did not agree.
Previously, she said there was an agreement that Pakistan would arrange $3 billion before the staff-level agreement and the remaining $3 billion after the agreement, but now the Fund had asked the South Asian country to arrange all the $6 billion.
She categorically stated that there was no plan B if the talks with the IMF fail to produce any positive results. “There is no option other than going back to the IMF, and I categorically say there is no Plan B,” Tribune quoted the minister as saying.
The statement depicts that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent telephonic conversation with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva did not remain fruitful as the global lender continues to hold its ground.
The state minister said Pakistan has shared the budget for the next fiscal year 2023-24 with the IMF, adding that the government was awaiting response from the lender.
Pakistani rupee remains unchanges against US dollar in the open market on March 18, 2024, Monday.
In the open market, the US dollar was being quoted at 278.7 for buying and 281.65 for selling.
Euro moves down to 303 for buying and 306 for selling while British Pound hovers around 356 for buying, and 359 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED remains stable at 75.8 whereas the Saudi Riyal saw minor increase, with new rates at 74.05.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 278.7 | 281.65 |
Euro | EUR | 303 | 306 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 356 | 359 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.8 | 76.55 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 74.05 | 74.5 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 182.7 | 184.5 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 741.89 | 749.89 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 204 | 206.2 |
China Yuan | CNY | 38.78 | 39.18 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 40.92 | 41.32 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.69 | 36.04 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.37 | 3.48 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.86 | 1.94 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 908.8 | 917.8 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 59.59 | 60.19 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 171.07 | 173.07 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.67 | 26.97 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 724.62 | 732.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 76.7 | 77.4 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 206 | 208 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.27 | 27.57 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 315.8 | 318.3 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 7.79 | 7.94 |
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