Rebalancing arrangements in context of NFC award: Hafeez says government not bound to implement IMF conditionality

Prime Minister''s Advisor on Finance, Economic and Revenue, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Saturday stated that the government is not bound to implement the International Monetary Fund''s (IMF''s) conditionality of rebalancing arrangements in the context of the forthcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
He made this comment while talking exclusively with Business Recorder, after the press conference during which he took only two or three questions.
On May 12, the IMF in its press release stated that to improve fiscal management the authorities will engage provincial governments on exploring options to rebalance current arrangements in the context of the forthcoming NFC.
Shaikh queried as to how one can impose any condition on Pakistan , adding that he does not understand the question.
When this correspondent read the text of the IMF press release to the Finance Advisor, he said "every type of conversation with the IMF is held, what is disturbing you?" When asked will the government go for readjustment with the provinces in NFC as the IMF press release states, he categorically said the government will not do it.