New IMF deal to unleash tsunami of inflation, warns PTI

Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtun­khwa chief minister on finance Muzzammil Aslam on Monday raised an alarm, warning that the new IMF bailout package, laced with “harsh conditions”, would unleash a tsunami of inflation and exacerbate public suffering. The PTI leader suggested the government refrain from hastily signing an agreement with the lender and instead involve the federating units to negotiate a better financial deal. Speaking at a press conference alongside PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan and PTI Senator Walid Iqbal, Mr Aslam said that the IMF staff and Pakistani authorities had successfully reached a staff-level agreement on the final review during meetings held from March 14-19 under Pakistan’s Stand-By Arrangement.