ISLAMABAD: After a phone call with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoped the global money lender would reach a decision “within a day or two”.

This was the fourth engagement between the IMF head and the premier after his back-to-back meetings with Ms Georgieva during his visit to Paris last week to revive the bailout package.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the premier hoped that in light of agreement on points of the programme, a decision by the IMF was likely to materialise within a day or two.

“[In the phone call with IMF chief] the prime minister also reiterated his determination to achieve the goals of improving the economic situation through joint efforts,” the statement read.

“In connection with the meetings held in Paris, the IMF director general acknowledged efforts by the finance minister and his team for completion of the programme,” it added.

The statement also quoted Ms Georgieva as saying that the Fund wanted Pakistan’s economic situation to improve. Pakistan was expected to receive at least $1.2bn from the global lender in October last year, but the tranche could not materialise as the IMF said Pakistan was unable to meet important prerequisites.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2023