PM summons meeting to discuss economic affairs as IMF talks continue over weekend

Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting on Monday to be briefed on economic affairs including talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The meeting will discuss financial affairs, the tax amnesty scheme and the IMF deal. According to local media reports, sources say that the premier has rejected the draft of a staff-level agreement between the Ministry of Finance and IMF.

The premier has expressed his reservations over additional taxes burden that the country will bear from July this year. The prime minister has directed officials to convince the IMF to reduce target of tax collection, the sources added.

The two sides had held talks in the federal capital on Friday, after which the Ministry of Finance issued a statement saying that both sides have made good progress in their discussions. "Consultations will continue over the weekend," the brief statement added.

The IMF’s delegation arrived in Pakistan on April 26 and has been here for 11 days. The talks were originally planned for conclusion on Friday with the IMF team confirming their return to Washington DC the same night. However, the IMF mission has extended their stay as talks between the two sides continue over the weekend.