ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a constructive call with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva regarding the International Conference on Resilient Pakistan to be held in Geneva, said the global lender’s spokesperson on Sunday while clarified that telephone talk was held on the request of the Pakistani premier.
“The call took place in response to a request by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss the International Conference on resilient Pakistan,” Esther Perez, the resident representative of the IMF.
It is pertinent to note that on Friday an official handout released by the PM’s Office after his speech at the Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO)’s inauguration ceremony had read that “the IMF managing director called premier Shehbaz on the phone.”
During his speech, the PM had also claimed that the Fund’s managing director had contacted him.
A spokesperson of the IMF in a statement to the media also said that “the Managing Director had a constructive call with Prime Minister Sharif in the context of the International Conference on Resilient Pakistan to be held in Geneva on Monday, January 9.
It added that the MD again expressed her sympathy to those directly affected by the floods and supported Pakistan’s efforts to build a more resilient recovery.
“The IMF delegation is expected to meet with Finance Minister Dar on the sidelines of the Geneva conference to discuss outstanding issues and the path forward,” it said.
PM Shehbaz will lead a high-level delegation to Switzerland where he will co-host the conference along with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, starting on January 9. The conference will help mobilise international support to help Pakistan’s people and government recover more effectively from the devastation caused by recent floods.
