As Pakistan reels from catastrophic floods, a senior official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed that an upcoming mission will assess whether the country’s financial and emergency response plans are sufficient to address the crisis.
The announcement came soon after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb hinted at seeking relief talks with the lender. The finance minister said on Sunday that an IMF team is likely to arrive in Pakistan by the end of the month for a review mission, noting that engaging the Fund on flood-related financial requirements was a necessary move.
“There is nothing wrong with asking the IMF for relief, since we are already part of the programme,” the minister remarked during a visit to flood-hit areas in Kamalia. “The IMF responded responsibly, and the prime minister has already announced the relief package.”
READ MORE: Govt Seeks IMF Nod for Three-Month Deferral of Electricity Bills for Flood Victims
“Damage assessments are critical, not only for our discussions with the IMF but also with other financial institutions,” the minister added.
