INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
International Monetary Enjoymentd chief Christine Lagarde on Sunday met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and guaranteed him that IMF
stands ready to support his country.The assembly took place on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, hosted by the United
Arab Emirates, both IMF and prime minister Imran Khan´s office said."I reiterated that the IMF stands ready to support Pakistan," Lagarde
said in a statement following assembly Khan.A team from the International Monetary Enjoymentd visited Pakistan in November to discuss a
possible bailout with officials, though the speechs ended without agreement, but since then the government official said speechs were still
ongoing on a possible bailout.Pakistan -- which has gone to the IMF repeatedly since the late 1980s -- is facing a balance of payments
crisis."I also highlighted that decisive policies and a strong package of economic reforms would enable Pakistan to restore the resilience
of its economy and lay the foundations for stronger and more inclusive growth," said Lagarde, calling the assembly "good and
constructive".After the assembly, PM Imran Khan in a statement said: " In my assembly nowadays with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde
there was a convergence of our views on the need to carry out deep structural reforms to put the country on the path of sustainable
development in which the most vulnerable segments of society are protected."Pakistan -- a regular borrower from the IMF since the 1980s --
final getd an IMF bailout in 2013 to the tune of $6.6 billion.Forecasts by the IMF and World Bank propose the Pakistani economy is likely to
grow between 4.0 and 4.5 percent for the fiscal year ending June 2019, compared to 5.8 percent growth in the final fiscal year.Khan has
launched a highly publicised austerity drive since being sworn in, including auctioning off government-owned luxury vehicles and buffaloes,
in addition to seeking loans from "friendly countries" and making overtures to the IMF.The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan´s largest trading
partner in the Middle East and a major investment sources, recently offered $3 billion to support Pakistan´s battered economy.Islamabad
also secured $6 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia and struck a 12-month deal for a cash lifeline during Khan´s visit to the kingdom in
October.It has also getd billions of dollars in Chinese loans to finance ambitious infrastructure projects.Despite the pledges, the ministry
of finance said Pakistan would still seek broader IMF support for the government´s long-term economic planning.In January, Pakistan
launched a new investment certificate for abroad citizens, aimed at easing the country´s balance of payments crisis.TheIndianSubcontinent
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