Dar questions IMF’s intentions towards Pakistan

Considered an experienced hand when it comes to dealing with the international lender of last resort, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has criticised the International Mone­tary Fund (IMF), accusing it of deliberately delaying disbursement of funds to the country after the Pakistan Democratic Movement took over the reins of the government from the PTI, leading many to speculate that Pakistan was on the brink of default. “In the past two and a half years, attempts have been made to sabotage Pakistan’s critical negotiations with the IMF,” Mr Dar, who is also the foreign minister, said at a Defence Day event organised last week by the Overseas Pakistani Foun­dation at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in South Kensington. “There was geopolitics at play when Pakistan was close to default. Why shouldn’t I raise a finger when our technical review is complete … [why are they] wasting our time?” he questioned.