The stories published by two Pakistan dailies, Dawn and Express Tribune, have been rubbished by the finance ministry that had appeared to be a malign campaign against the bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Express Tribune had reported on November 9 that the prime minister decided against making a telephone call to the IMF chief to discuss a $6 billion bailout package.
Following the Express Tribune’s report, Dawn had also published a story, claiming that the Pakistani government is making efforts to pass a mini-budget in a hurried manner before holding its upcoming meeting with IMF.
It raised questions whether both Pakistan dailies are running a propaganda campaign under a great game or they are trying to oppose the Pakistan-IMF agreement.
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Following the publications, the finance minister had given a clarification in separate statements that both reports were incorrect that had been published by Dawn and Express Tribune.
The ministry clarified that the IMF board of governors’ session will be held on January 12 and Pakistan will have to approve the mini-budget from the National Assembly to get the next tranche of IMF loan. It added that it would be a different task to pass a mini-budget in the NA, however, it is not impossible.
It may be noted here that Express Tribune’s report had impacted the economic activities in the country as a decline of 720 points was witnessed in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), whereas, the rupee devaluated against US dollar up to Rs1.15 on the next day of the publication.
The story had also given an impression that the premier was not interested in acquiring the IMF loan.
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Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said in a Twitter message that the reports regarding Pakistan-IMF loans were incorrect as the country and the international financial institution reached an agreement.
He added that the journalists had questioned Prime Minister Imran Khan for telephoning the IMF chief for the Kamyab Jawan program, to which he replied that the talks are in their first phase, hence, there is no need to telephone the IMF chief.
Economists criticised the dailies’ editors for publishing the news stories in an irresponsible manner that would give an adverse impact on the country’s economic stability. They questioned whether the dailies are going to join a great game or try to sabotage the Pakistan-IMF agreement which needed to be clarified by the editors of both newspapers.