ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said government had no intention of freezing foreign currency accounts despite nation facing severe dollar crunch.

“We do not plan on freezing foreign currency accounts and there have been no proposals to take such an action,” she told journalists outside Parliament here.

In May 1998, then-government of Nawaz Sharif froze all currency accounts after country’s first nuclear tests. Pakistan’s foreign reserves standing at rock bottom, cover less than month’s imports as economy creaks under twin deficits and record-high inflation. rogramme.

She said government had shared fiscal year 2023-24 budget numbers with lender and IMF is still negotiating with State Bank of Pakistan.

“We have told IMF to conclude ninth review at earliest. We have less time and lot of tension for completing ninth review,” she noted. Minister said Fund will not have any issues with budget.

Pasha said IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva had assured Pakistani authorities that her organisation would complete latest review. “All our friendly countries have also given their assurances to IMF.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 13 2023

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