Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar met top government officials of the United States and United Kingdom alongside key figures of various global financial institutions, during his ongoing trip to the USA, said a statement released by the Ministry of Finance on Saturday.
The finance minister, who is leading Pakistan’s delegation in the IMF / World Bank’s 2022 Annual meetings being held in Washington DC, met with Vicky Ford, UK Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The federal minister thanked the UK government for financial support and assistance to meet the challenges posed by floods, which devastated the north and south of Pakistan leading to the deaths of over 1,400 persons while displacing millions.
Dar also appreciated the trade concessions afforded to Pakistan and other developing countries under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), read the statement.
Ford assured of the UK’s continued support for Pakistan during this difficult period. The two sides discussed ways to further deepen bilateral development cooperation.
IMF, World Bank leadership assure Dar of continued support for Pakistan
Moreover, United States Assistant Secretaries, Ramin Toloui and Donald Lu called on Ishaq Dar at Pakistan Embassy to express solidarity with Pakistan over devastating floods and assure continued US support for Pakistan’s relief and recovery efforts, read the statement.
“Other issues of mutual interest were also, discussed,” it added.
The finance minister also led Pakistan’s delegation to a high-level round table on Pakistan’s floods - impact and response, cochaired by Martin Raiser, Vice President of World Bank and Nigel Casey, UK Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Ministry of Finance said that the round table was attended by all major bilateral and multilateral development partners and donors.
Initial findings of Pakistan’s post-disaster need assessment jointly prepared by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, EU and the Government of Pakistan were presented in the round table.
In his concluding remarks, Dar emphasized the need to provide adequate support to Pakistan to meet the challenges of recovery and rehabilitation.
Dar holds ‘very productive’ meeting with IMF’s Deputy MD: MoF
Furthermore, Dar also met Jihad Azour Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF and discussed the implementation of the IMF program. The IMF’s official expressed sympathy for the losses caused by the floods and assured the finance minister of the IMF’s support.
Moreover, Dar held a “very productive” meeting with H.E. Sultan Abdul Rehman Al Murshid, CEO Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), said the statement.
The finance minister conveyed Pakistan’s deep gratitude for the support provided by KSA to Pakistan at all times and welcomed the forthcoming visit of the SFD team to Pakistan. CEO SFD assured of SFD’s continued support to Pakistan, read the statement.