IMF Talks Begin with Pakistan Amid Ongoing Financial Discussions

ISLAMABAD: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team on Wednesday held the first round of talks on a possible IMF bailout, even as Pakistan insisted it had solved its immediate balance of payments crisis.<br /><br />The talks were held in Islamabad between the IMF delegation and officials of the finance ministry on a “technical level”. The government shared Pakistan’s economic data with the IMF. The Fund has suggested Pakistan to cut its expenditures and increase tax returns.<br /><br />Sources said the talks would continue for two weeks.<br /><br />The government has reportedly finalised its paperwork to seek up to $6 billion bailout package from the IMF.<br /><br />Speaking shortly after Prime Minister Imran Khan returned from Beijing, Pakistan’s finance minister had said Tuesday that assurances from China — combined with a pledge made by Saudi Arabia last month — meant that Pakistan’s immediate fiscal woes were “over”.