Technical reasons, not nuclear programme behind IMF delay: Ishaq Dar.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar Monday blamed "technical reasons" behind the delay in the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme's revival, claiming that no strings were attached regarding the country's nuclear programme to the loan.

Pakistan has been hosting an IMF mission since early February to negotiate the terms of the deal, including the adoption of policy measures to manage its fiscal deficit ahead of the annual budget due around June.

The funds are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations.

Veteran politician Senator Raza Rabbani had raised concerns about whether the delay in the staff-level agreement with the Fund has anything to do with the country's strategic assets, including the nuclear and missile programmes.

In response to Rabbani's concerns, Dar had on the floor of the Senate stated that the coalition government would not compromise on its nuclear programme for reviving the stalled IMF loan facility.

But this prompted further speculation and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also demanded an explanation from the government.

In response to a query, IMF resident representative in Islamabad Esther Perez Ruiz rubbished claims and denied attaching any strings to the External Fund Facility (EFF).

"I want to...