Protecting social spending is an important part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussion on a programme with Pakistan. This was stated by Gerry Rice, Director Communication Department IMF during a media briefing. Rice further said that Pakistan has requested a programme from the IMF. Last month they reached a staff level agreement on that programme so that is now under discussion. However, the IMF official said that he does not have any specific comment on the budget.
Rice said, "In terms of our discussions, we are talking about broadly how to restore stronger, more balanced growth by reducing domestic and external imbalances, improving the business environment, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency and importantly protecting social spending. So that last part does indeed speak broadly, that social spending is and protecting social spending is in fact an important part of the discussion that we are having on a program with Pakistan."