Dar comes down hard upon PTI Chief over rumours about “Pakistan’s default”

Islamabad:  Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday came down hard upon Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan over what he said “spreading fake news” about default of Pakistan.

Ishaq Dar said that Imran Khan left 37.9 billion dollars trade deficit.

“Can you [Imran Khan] tell us any indicator during your government,” said the Finance Minister while addressing an important press conference in Islamabad.

The Finance Minister also offered Imran Khan for open debate on the economy.

Ishaq Dar said Pakistan is expecting 1.3 billion dollars in financing from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in the coming days to help improve its foreign exchange reserves.

The Minister expressed confidence that by June 30 the State Bank's reserves will improve to 10 billion dollars and national reserves near to 16 billion. 

Regarding the progress of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout programme, Dar said all prior actions demanded by the Fund have been fulfilled.

The Finance Minister rejected the impression of a default and said we have never defaulted and we won't now despite going through a precarious situation.

He said the current government had made a principled decision to save the state at the cost of its political capital.

He criticized the PTI chief, calling on him to reflect on his own past and government's performance. 

The finance minister said Imran's attitude was selfish, adding that oppositions around the world worked together with the government on national issues.

The Finance Minister said we all must join hands to steer the country out of prevailing quagmire, put in due to wrong policies of the previous government.