ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened National Security Committee (NSC) meeting today (Friday) amid ongoing political, economic and terrorism challenges.

Meeting will be attended by cabinet members, services chiefs and others. Sources said that heads of intelligence agencies would brief participants on overall security situation in country.

They would also give briefing on security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab where Election Commission of Pakistan has announced elections on May 14 in line with orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan. 

Sources added that ongoing economic turmoil would also come under discussion as South Asian country is reeling under record inflation amid delay in revival of loan programme with International Monetary Fund. Pakistan’s loan programme is yet to materialise months after it imposed additional taxes and increased energy prices and allowed free floating of currency to meet conditions laid forth by IMF.

Nation has missed multiple deadlines to revive deal. Washington-based lender has asked cash-strapped Pakistan to seek commitments for new loans from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) before it releases funds.

However, hopes have rekindled for receiving much-needed loan tranche stalled since last year as global lender confirmed that it had received assurance from Saudi Arabia for providing new loan worth $ 2 billion to Pakistan.

Pakistan is now looking towards UAE to secure another $ 1 billion deposit in order to reach staff-level agreement (SLA) with IMF.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 07 2023

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