Sources told The Express Tribune that the prime minister urged the IMF managing director to review the condition about imposition of new taxes. These remain the major stumbling blocks in reaching an initial understanding for a staff level visit by the IMF to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz also made a call to his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang, seeking Beijing’s help to avert a looming default. The prime minister’s call to the IMF head indicates that the finance ministry could not break the gridlock in the past over three months. The UN secretary-general will deliver remarks at the opening session and is scheduled to hold a joint media encounter with the Prime Minister Shehbaz from a stake-out position.
