Washington/Karachi/Islamabad: International Monetary Fund (IMF) ka Executive Board 25 September ko apni meeting rakhega, jis me Pakistan ke liye naye $7 billion ke bailout programme ki manzoori ka imkaan hai. Yeh naya programme IMF ke 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement ke tehat hai, jo Pakistani authorities ke saath mid-July 2024 mein finalize hua tha.
IMF ki Communication Director Julie Kozack ne press briefing mein tasdeeq ki ke Board meeting schedule par hai. Yeh arrangement Pakistan ki economic stability aur growth ko barhawa dene ke liye tay kiya gaya hai, jisme pichle nine-month Stand-by arrangement ke successful implementation ko bhi mad e nazar rakha gaya hai.
Pakistan ne IMF ke shara’it ko poora karne ke liye zaroori financing assurances bhi hasil ki hain. Country ne $12 billion ke rollover ki confirmation hasil ki hai aur Saudi Arabia se $2-$2.5 billion ka additional financing bhi secure kiya hai, jo ke oil facility aur commercial financing ke zariye aayega.
SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad ne kaha ke IMF executive board ki meeting mein Pakistan ka case pesh kiya jayega aur additional funding shortfalls ke liye koi rukawat nahi hogi. Unho ne yeh bhi bataya ke central bank ke foreign exchange reserves March 2025 tak $12 billion aur June 2025 tak $13 billion tak pohnchne ki recommendation hai.
SBP ne benchmark interest rate ko teesri martaba kam kar diya hai, jo ke 17.5% par aa gaya hai. Yeh reduction inflation ke kam hone aur economic growth ko boost karne ke liye kiya gaya hai.
Kerosene oil aur Light Diesel Oil ki prices bhi international market mein oil prices ke girne ke bawajood kam ki gayi hain. Diesel aur petrol ke prices bhi reduce kiye ja sakte hain, lekin Government petroleum levy ko increase karne ka bhi plan bana rahi hai.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ne SBP ke policy rate reduction ka welcome kiya hai, jo ke investors ke confidence ko boost krne ke liye kiya gaya hai. Unho ne ummeed zahir ki ke aage chal kar inflation aur kam hoga aur economic stability barqarar rahegy.
