Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday heaped praise on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir during a cabinet meeting for his \u201ckey role\u201d in securing $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that eventually contributed to securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.<\/p>\n
\u201cArmy Chief General Asim Munir played a key role in bringing $2 billion from Saudi Arabia and $1 billion from the UAE,\u201d the premier told his cabinet in a televised meeting.<\/p>\n
He briefed the cabinet about the nine-month standby agreement that his government reached with the Washington-based lender last week. He also thanked IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva for her role in the bailout package.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first instalment from the IMF will be received in July,\u201d PM Shehbaz told the ministers. He added that China helped Pakistan several months before the deal just like it has done in the past, adding that if Beijing had agreed to roll over $5 billion then things would have been different.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the deal with the IMF had not been settled then the matter would have been different,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
However, the prime minister said that the nine-month agreement was a \u201ctemporary relief\u201d for the country, adding that it was a moment of concern, not a matter of \u201cpride\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also urged all the national institutions to make concerted efforts to rid the country of loans and put it on the course to progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile keeping in their respective jurisdictions, the institutions should make united efforts for at least the next 15 years to address the country\u2019s economic woes,\u201d he went on to say. He added that the country\u2019s deliverance from loans required a vision, unity, hard work and sacrifice by the affluent people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we opt for this course, no one can stop Pakistan from achieving progress,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n