ISLAMABAD Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, warned that if Pakistan doesn’t carry out its obligations to economic reforms under the IMF agreement, it may lose access to vital loan disbursements.
She stated that “full implementation of all reform commitments will be essential” when speaking at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). If not, there is a serious chance that Pakistan won’t be able to receive IMF payments, which are crucial for the country’s economy and stability.
She was concerned that recent economic successes may persuade the government to offer public assistance, which might have an impact on the reforming process.
The IMF authorized a $7 billion credit program for Pakistan in September. The Fund called for strict reforms, such as better governance, tax policy changes, and fiscal restraint.
Ms. Marriott emphasized that in order to overcome the challenges posed by reform measures, there must be political commitment to carry them out and open contact with the people.
In order to maintain investor trust, the high commissioner advocated for a universal application of renegotiation principles and asked for transparency in contract renegotiation with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Ms. Marriott voiced her worries about Pakistan’s persistent internet outage, which the IT industry organization has warned may force freelancers and IT companies to leave the nation.
She emphasized the sector’s significance to the national economy and encouraged authorities to come up with workable measures to deal with the problem.
The UK high commissioner emphasized the significance of an open and equitable legal system while declining to directly address a query regarding legal actions taken against former prime minister Imran Khan.
