United States says it is aware of financial difficulties of Pakistan

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (SABAH): The United States has said it is aware of financial difficulties of Pakistan and wants to see the country in an economically sustainable position.

Addressing a daily press briefing in Washington, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said Pakistan is in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other global financial institutions and the US is supportive where it can be of its partner.

He said Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability is a topic of conversation between the Department of State and its counterparts like the White House and the Treasury Department, among others.

When asked what suggestions Washington has for Islamabad to overcome these financial challenges and the discussions going on between the two governments, Ned Price said these conversations with “our Pakistani partners often do entail technical issues. Often times these are addressed between the Department of the Treasury and our Pakistani partners”.

He added that “Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability is a topic of conversation between the Department of State and our counterparts, the White House, the Treasury Department, among others.”

He was also asked whether the US is planning to give some debt relief as the country’s forex reserve plunged to a historic low of $4.3 billion — enough for three weeks of imports.

To this, the spokesperson said, “So this is a challenge that we are attuned to. I know that Pakistan has been working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and with international financial institutions. We want to see Pakistan in an economically sustainable position. Those conversations, as I understand it, are ongoing.”

The US official added that they are supportive where they can be of their Pakistani partners, but ultimately these are conversations between Pakistan and international financial institutions.