Govt ready to discuss rupee free float with IMF.

Pakistan on Thursday invited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to sit on the negotiation table to sort out all 'thorny' issues, including implementing a market-based exchange rate, as it considered again slapping withholding taxes on cash withdrawals and other banking transactions as part of a 'mini-budget'.

The new planned discussion measures include further increasing the withholding tax rates on the sale and purchase of properties, according to sources.

These measures have been discussed during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

'The finance secretary has requested the IMF to send its mission to Pakistan as early as next week and shown the country's desire to negotiate on all the disputed issues,' a senior minister told The Express Tribune.

The minister added that the discussions with the IMF would take place in light of the matters discussed on the sidelines of the recent Geneva conference.

Pakistan on Thursday invited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to sit on the negotiation table to sort out all 'thorny' issues, including implementing a market-based exchange rate, as it considered again slapping withholding taxes on cash withdrawals and other banking transactions as part of a 'mini-budget'.

The new planned discussion measures include further increasing the withholding tax rates on the sale and purchase of properties, according to sources.

These measures have been discussed during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

'The finance secretary has requested the IMF to send its mission to Pakistan as early as next week and shown the country's desire to negotiate on all the disputed issues,' a senior minister told The Express Tribune.

The minister added that the discussions with the IMF would take place in light of the matters discussed on the sidelines of the recent Geneva conference.

However, this realisation came only after foreign nations refused a bailout to Pakistan without the IMF umbrella.

All the international creditors have advised the government to take the IMF path.

However, in the past, the global lender refused to send its mission to the country until the government took concrete corrective measures.

Now, it has been agreed that about six to eight difficult steps will be taken including implementing a flexible exchange rate and withdrawing sales tax exemptions available on imports and local sales.

Minister of State for Finance Dr Aisha Pasha on Thursday said there were 'contradicting...