From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday hoped the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would an-nounce a decision pertaining to the release of bailout package within 48 hours.
In a conversation with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) bigwigs, the premier said, “All of the conditions made by the international lender have been met. We are on the way to finish the 9th review”.
“We made the solution compatible with IMF policies. Through several discussions, the country has removed all of the internal lender’s reservations”, PM Shehbaz said.
He said, “To make sure the country supports the international lender, we have spoken with the IMF on multiple occa-sions”.
“Once we receive the tranche, we’ll briskly advance the country’s economic programme. Efforts are underway to lift the country,” the premier maintained.
Earlier in the day, the premier constituted a high-level committee to work out the restructuring, reformation and re-vival of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
He was chairing a meeting to discuss the matters pertaining to the PIA, according to the PM Office. The committee, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, would present its proposals and recommendations to the federal cabinet after Eidul Azha.
The committee would also comprise Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the PM Jahanzeb Khan and secretary aviation.
The body would deliberate on different options for the restructuring and revival of the PIA. The aviation minister briefed the prime minister about the proposed route map and reformative measures for the uplift of the national flag carrier.
The prime minister appreciated the efforts of the minister for the PIA’s revival.
