Pakistan to request for 3-year IMF programme, says finance minister

Pakistan has initiated discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a new multi-billion dollar loan agreement to support its economic reform programme, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said, adding that the country will at least be requesting for a three-year programme. During his visit to Washington, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will attend the spring meetings organized by the IMF and World Bank, which kick off in earnest on Tuesday, with two clear objectives: to help countries combat climate change, and to assist the world’s most indebted nations. The meetings — which bring central bankers together with finance and development ministers, academics, and representatives from the private sector and civil society to discuss the state of the global economy — will kick off with the IMF’s publication of its updated World Economic Outlook.