ISLAMABAD: International Monterey Fund (IMF) has expressed its
dissatisfaction over government’s performance in energy sector, saying
that efforts should be sped up for restructuring infrastructure in the
power sector.
While addressing a joint press conference with
Federal Minister for Finance Dr.Abdul Hafeez Shakih, Assistant Director
IMF Adnan Mazari here on Saturday, said that Pakistan was needed to
bring down its budget deficit and more efforts are being taken in energy
sector so that country can overcome its energy crises.
He said
that IMF could not afford provision of more funds in energy sector to
Pakistan and added that efforts should be made for eradication of
poverty and bringing investment in the country.
While dispelling
the impression, Federal Minister for Finance Dr.Abdul Hafeez Shaikh
said that Pakistan had not requested to International Monetary Fund
(IMF) for a fresh loan programme.
He said that Pakistan enjoys strong relations with IMF and that the recent talks were held in a cordial atmosphere.
Federal
Minister for Finance Dr.Abdul Hafeez Shakih painted a rosy picture of
the country’s economy and said that economy has shown better performance
during the first four months of the current fiscal year 2011-12 and the
trend is expected to continue during the rest of the year.
He
said that in a bid to ensure economic reforms agenda government was
committed to find out solutions to the key constraints, being faced by
the economy.
He informed that during first four months of
current fiscal year 2011-12 Rs.9 billion taxes has been collected which
shows an increase of 28 per cent as compare to last corresponding year
whereas remittance has reached $4.2 billion.
“Export has been
increased $6 billion as compare to last corresponding year and efforts
are being taken to end subsidy which is providing in energy sector”, the
minister added. Online
