KSA, UAE Assure Support To Pakistan In Getting IMF Loan.

ISLAMABAD -- Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa yesterday spoke to top authorities of Saudi Arabia and UAE and discussed the IMF program and its fresh conditions with them and sought their assurances as desired by the IMF.

The Army Chief had to talk to Saudi and UAE authorities after the IMF put fresh conditions for the approval of $1.2 billion loan tranche expected in late August with Pakistan's ability to timely secure 'adequate assurances' from trusted friendly countries for more loans to bridge the worsening financial deficit.

Credible sources told The Nation that both Saudi and Emirati authorities extended full assurance to Pakistan for its ability in getting an external financial facility from the IMF.

The board meeting of IMF is tentatively planned for late August, however, no exact date has been given by the board. It is expected that the IMF board after its meeting would release nearly $1.2 billion tranche against the original plan of the $2 billion.

According to the sources, both UAE and Saudi authorities said they do realise the financial difficulties being faced by Pakistan and assured their full cooperation for Pakistan in getting and early financial facility from IMF for Pakistan.

After the army chief talked to UAE and Saudi authorities on the phone a report was...