IMF mission chief holds talks with Pak authorities for new program

IMF mission chief holds talks with Pak authorities for new program

ISLAMABAD: IMF mission chief for Pakistan, Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo, visited Islamabad and Karachi during March 26-27, for introductory meetings with the authorities, said a statement on Wednesday.

Ramirez-Rigo assumed Pakistan mission chief responsibilities earlier this month. This was his first visit to the country.

In Islamabad, Ramirez-Rigo met with the Minister of Finance, Asad Umar, the Minister of Commerce, Razzak Dawood, the Minister of Power, Omer Ayub, the State Minister for Revenues Hammad Azhar, and several government senior officials, including the Finance Secretary, Younus Dagha, the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenues, Jehanzeb Khan, and the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity, Ishrat Hussain.

In Karachi, he met with the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Tariq Bajwa and other senior officials from the State Bank of Pakistan.

Discussions focused on recent economic developments and prospects for Pakistan in the context of ongoing discussions toward an IMF-supported program.