PM Imran to chair federal cabinet meeting today

ISLAMABAD:(Net News/ Media 92 News) Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a meeting of the federal cabinet today (Thursday).

The meeting will review the performance of the government and Finance Minister Asad Umar will take cabinet members into confidence regarding negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to sources.

A day earlier, PM Imran said Pakistan might not have to approach the IMF for loans. In a meeting with journalists, the prime minister expressed hope that the government will be able to fix economic issues soon with its policies. The government is also in contact with friendly countries for resolution of economic issues, he said.

Pakistan may not have to approach IMF: PM Imran

The government recently announced its decision to approach IMF amid severe criticism from opposition for taking a U-turn on the issue.

However, according to a British media report one of the possible reasons for PM Imran not approaching IMF can be the country’s dependence on Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is holding talks with the kingdom over this matter and investments in big power projects are also being discussed, the report added.

Discussions are also being held with Saudi Arabia over deferred oil payments, the report further said.

During the last federal cabinet meeting held on October 11, the premier directed the Ministry of Finance to hold a thorough probe into the loans taken by the former governments in the past ten years and their utilisation.

The cabinet had also accorded approval for the appointment of Air Marshal Arshad Malik as chairman of Pakistan International Airlines and Aoun Abbas as chairman of Bait ul Mal.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry while addressing the media after the meeting had also announced that measures were being taken to crack down on smuggling of mobile phones. By this year’s end, smuggled phones would not be operational in the country, the minister asserted.