Pakistani mission departs for China to button up relief package

ISLAMABAD: A high-level team of Pakistani officials left for China on Thursday (today) to finalize a potential relief package for the country, sources privy to the matter said.

The delegation will hold talks with Chinese counterparts to tie up a prospective economic package. Secretaries of finance, trade and planning, as well as the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan comprise the Pakistani mission.

The visit of the mission is a follow-up to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s five-day visit to China last week.

As per sources, the Pakistani officials are also expected to discuss the probability of Pakistan-made products’ access to the Chinese markets.

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Asad Umar confirmed that talks were held with Pakistan’s all-weather friend for a relief package during the Premier’s state visit.

The Minister explained that the scope of talks was not only restricted to a monetary package, but also entails long-term partnership and investment with China.

On the other hand, the Pakistani government and a technical team of International Monetary Fund (IMF) resumed their talks regarding a bailout package, on Thursday (today), for a second day in the federal capital.

A day earlier, talks were initiated in Islamabad between the IMF delegation and officials of the finance ministry on a “technical level”. The government shared Pakistan’s economic data with the IMF. The Fund has suggested Pakistan to cut its expenditures and increase tax returns.