President Alvi terms IMF loan vital to Pakistan's distressed economy.

ISLAMABAD -- President Arif Alvi Wednesday defended the decision to sign the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), claiming that it was 'likely to help the country resolve its financial and economic difficulties'.

The president, during a meeting with presidents of chambers of commerce and industry from across the country, said the parliament, judiciary, government, and business community should work together to resolve economic issues.

Attendees included presidents and representatives of 54 chambers of commerce and industry from across the country. Representatives of women's chambers of commerce, small and medium chambers of commerce, APTMA, P@SHA, Pakistan Poultry Association, and the Stock Exchange at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidential Palace). Representatives of the pharmaceutical sector were also present during the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the president stressed the need for the country's three main branches needed to work alongside the business community to identify and resolve the issues faced by the nation to ensure political, economic, and financial stability in the country.

He also said that those who were predicting the derailment of the political and democratic process needed to be 'discouraged wholeheartedly', and that democracy in the country should be strengthened with each passing day.

Speaking on the occasion, the president also commented that signing the agreement with the IMF was 'important' and the move would likely help the country resolve its financial and economic difficulties.

'A representative government mandated by the people could sell the difficult decisions to the people of Pakistan,' President Alvi said.

It must be noted that the government's top policymakers Wednesday reportedly suggested that the government take quick decisions to...