Agreement with IMF to be in country's best interest: Miftah Ismail

Karachi: Finance Minister Miftah Ismail says today the nation is paying the price of wrong policies and agreements signed by the previous government with international monetary organizations. 

Talking to the media in Karachi before leaving for Doha for talks with IMF on Monday, he said tough conditions of withdrawing subsidies and imposing a tax on petroleum products are the result of agreements of the previous government with IMF.

The Finance Minister said as per agreements of the previous government, the diesel price is to be increased by 150 rupees per liter and petrol by 100 rupees per liter but the present government does not want to carry it forward as it will result in heavy financial burden on the masses.

He said Imran Khan has always created impediments in the path of development of the country. He said Imran Khan's 2014 sit-in caused the postponement of the Chinese president's visit to Pakistan and today IMF team that was due in Islamabad for talks has declined to visit because of Imran Khan's sit-ins.

The Finance Minister expressed the hope that in the next two days he will succeed in having an agreement with IMF in the best interest of the country and the people.