IMF being main lender has not been able to meet single demand of Tehreek-Insaf Pakistan, seeking free, fair and transparent general election in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:  International Monetary Fund (IMF), being main lender as well as international observer, has not been able to meet single demand of Tehreek-Insaf Pakistan, seeking free, fair and transparent general election in Pakistan.

IMF authorities have especially mentioned this PTI demand in it,s Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) andTechnical Memorandum of Understanding (TMU) approved by the IMF executive board on January 11, 2024. 

IMF mission visiting Pakistan prior to concluding the negotiations on going $3 billion Stand By Arrangement (SBA) during the month of June 2023, had sought political assurance from Pakistan Muslim Leage (nawaz), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Pakistan Tehreek Insaf for implementation of the conditionalities of this loan programm.     

PML (n) PPP had extended un-conditional support for implementation of the $ 3billion IMF prgramme during the meeting with visiting IMF delegation. Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, while extending the complete support to the IMF SBA programme, had linked their support with ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistan.

General Elections in Pakistan, are crucial in nature in Pakistan as the uncertainty is looming, as who would be forming the National Government as well as Governments in four federating unit,s like Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pukhtunkwa  and Balochistan.

Pakistan Tehrek Insaf had requested the visiting IMF delegation to perform it,s due role in holding and ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistan safe guarding it,s future relations with PTI, for successful implementation of $3 billion Stand By Arrangement in Pakistan.

When Pakistan Tehreek Insaf placed this demand before the IMF delegation, the general Elections were due in Pakistan within 90 days of the constitutional limit till November 12, 2023, however, owing to some un-aviodable situation, General Election had to be to postponed till 8th Febrauary 2024.

If the caretaker government had opted to hold general elections in Pakistan on November 12, 2023, the elected government had to take the responsibility of the implementation of the IMF Loan programme by December 2023. However, the delay caused in holding general election in Pakistan enabled the Caretaker Government to complete the IMF programme by March31, 2024. 

Pakistan Tehreek Insaf that is facing the burnt  and consiquenses of the clash with establishment as well as with the main opponent Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN), however, the support of the general public for the ousted former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is a great mistry the is expected to be resolved on 8th Febrauary 2024. 

The Result of the General Elections in Pakistan, are very important for the International Monetary Fund, World bank, Asian Development Bank and other lenders and international financial institutions as well as development partners of Pakistan. The Ownership of the development programmes, as well as reforms in Pakistan is the main area of concern for these international financial instiutions and they would be working with the Political party forming government in Pakistan after General Elections of 8th February 2024.