PM Kakar to Meet IMF Director at UNGA to Address Economic Challenges

Islamabad: Pakistan is abuzz with anticipation as its Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, gears up for a potentially pivotal meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, during the 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.

The primary objective of this anticipated meeting is to delve into potential adjustments to the ongoing Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) in response to escalating public concerns over mounting inflation, surging electricity tariffs, and soaring petroleum prices.

A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York is working diligently to coordinate this crucial encounter between the Caretaker Prime Minister and the IMF’s top executive during the UNGA session, which is scheduled to unfold from September 18 to September 23. Prime Minister Kakar will be accompanied by the Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani.

While formal confirmation of the meeting is pending, it is widely expected to occur, as indicated by the official. As public discontent and protests against inflation and price hikes mount, the government is actively exploring various avenues to ease the burden of high electricity bills on the Pakistani populace. Nevertheless, concrete plans to provide relief to those affected by the staggering inflation rates have not been solidified as of yet.

Furthermore, the official divulged that the Caretaker Prime Minister has an ambitious agenda that includes bilateral meetings with counterparts from several countries, as well as discussions with leaders of international organizations, philanthropic institutions, and corporate figures during the UNGA session. It’s worth noting that no formal bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden is on the schedule. However, President Biden will be hosting a gathering of world leaders participating in the UNGA session on September 19 at the UN Headquarters. The official suggested that this occasion might provide an opportunity for the Caretaker Prime Minister to exchange brief greetings with the US President amid interactions with global leaders.

On the same day, the Caretaker Prime Minister is expected to grace a reception hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for participants of the UNGA session. Additionally, on the sidelines of the UNGA session, the Caretaker Prime Minister is slated to engage with other heads of state and government during various organized activities.

The highlight of the Caretaker Prime Minister’s UNGA participation will be his address to the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2023. During this pivotal speech, Prime Minister Kakar will expound upon Pakistan’s stance on a spectrum of regional and global issues, with a special emphasis on the longstanding, unresolved matter of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains a prominent item on the UN’s agenda.