Pak in no rush to strike IMF deal: Asad Umar

Islamabad: Pakistan is no rush to strike a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Finance Minister Asad Umar has said.

Asad Umar said: “We are in discussions with IMF and trying to reach the outlines of the program” However, he said we will go ahead and sign the programme only if it is in the best interests of Pakistan’s economy.

In an interview with Saudi daily Arab News, he said funding from friendly countries would help shore up the economy over the remaining current financial year.

The Finance Minister said Pakistan had satisfied all concerns raised by the IMF and US officials with regard to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

On the government’s promise of attracting investment from overseas Pakistanis, he said rules for a diaspora bond were approved by the cabinet a week ago and the bond would be issued late this month or next month.