LONDON: Financial experts at the Anglo-Pa­k­istan sterling balance talks here have practically concluded their work, a usually reliable source said here today [July 6]. The agreement will now be finalised by Mr Ghu­lam Moham­mad, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, who will arrive in London on July 8 from his European economic study tour, and Sir Stafford Cripps, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr Ghulam Mohammad, who is leading the four-man Pakistan delegation at the now six-week-old sterling talks, will also represent Pakistan at the mid-July London Conference of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers. The present sterling talks will decide how much sterling and how much hard currency Pakistan will receive out of her blocked balances of about 165 million sterling, from Britain during the new release period. The new agreement, which will succeed the one year pact ... is also expected to last a year. —

[Meanwhile, according to news agencies from Lahore,] ...Mr Rashid Ali Khan, Presi­d­ent Lahore City Muslim League ... has ... co­­n­demned the false and mischievous allegations against the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024