Negotiations on IMF's final condition in progress, says PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that the government has accepted all the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and negotiations on the global lender's final condition are ongoing. According to Express News, a meeting of the parliamentary party of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Addressing the meeting, the premier reiterated that “we have always brought the country out of difficult situations”. The premier stated that the government’s 'hands are tied' due to the IMF agreement, adding that the country is facing record inflation due to the previous government’s agreement with the global lender. Read: Dar slams 'uncustomary' IMF attitude, snubs demand for abandoning long-range missiles Criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, the premier said the previous government signed the IMF programme on the strictest terms and then suspended the program by violating it, maintaining that the former premier “has trapped Pakistan in an economic quagmire”. PM Shehbaz accepted that the current situation of the country is “extremely critical” but said that the government’s intention is clear. “The time will come and the situation will change, this is my faith,” he added. PM Shehbaz added that the former leaders used “bad language against friendly countries”. “Serious allegations were made on Chinese projects. China invested $30 billion and false accusations were made on the same helpful friend,” he added. Also read: 'Safe, foolproof and free': PMO dismisses nuclear rumours Regarding rumors about trade with Israel, the premier said that the “lie of starting trade with Israel is being spread which is condemnable,” adding that “Pakistan will stick to its principled position until the Palestinians get their rights”. The prime minister also talked about the “divided” Supreme Court and said “the 'political destabilizer' is getting relief from the court day and night”, adding that “attitude towards our leadership was different”. He furthered that large swathes of the country were devastated by disastrous floods and Rs100 billion were given to the flood victims by the federal government only. The premier highlighted the government’s efforts to help those in need and said “we started providing free flour to 100 million poor families during Ramazan”. Moreover, the premier also lauded the efforts of the party workers and said they stood with the party leadership in the most difficult of situations.

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