LAHORE: Country’s leading economist Dr Hafeez Pasha fears suspension of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme which, according to him, may leave an adverse impact on the upcoming annual budget for 2021-22 fiscal year as well as the economy.
“The IMF programme which resumed in March this year after being remained suspended last year due to deteriorating economic situation, was approved by its board after negotiations with the government of Pakistan (finance ministry). But now the sitting finance minister seeks renegotiation of the programme with the IMF which, according to me, may not be acceptable to them after they have it approved by its board,” Dr Pasha told Dawn after speaking at a pre-budget webinar organised by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) here on Friday.