Army chief reaches out to UAE, Saudi authorities, discusses IMF programme.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has spoken with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Geo News reported.

The International Monetary Fund loan programme reportedly came under discussion and positive development is expected for Pakistan soon.

It comes days after Nikkei Asia reported that Gen Bajwa appealed to the United States to help Islamabad secure an early dispersal of $1.2 billion in funds under the IMF programme to avert the risk of debt default.

According to the report, the army chief reached out to the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on a phone call, sources from both US and Pakistan revealed to the publication's correspondent Wajahat S Khan, on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

The sources revealed that Gen Bajwa requested the White House and Treasury Department to urge the lender to expedite the bailout process and immediately release the nearly $1.2 billion that Pakistan expects to receive under the...