President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday agreed not to take loan on tough IMF conditions. They were, however, of the opinion that a final decision about taking loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be taken after the president’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the meeting of the Friends of Pakistan group, to be held in Abu Dhabi on 17th of this month.
The decision was taken during a meeting of Prime Minister Gilani with President Zardari here on Saturday.
The prime minister apprised the president of his recently-concluded visits to the People’s Republic of China and Turkey and also discussed matters pertaining to the ongoing relief activities in the earthquake affected areas of Balochistan.
Prime Minister Gilani returned early on Saturday morning on the completion of his five-day visit to Turkey, where he attended the 85th anniversary celebrations of the brotherly country as chief guest on the special invitation by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The prime minister also attended the World Economic Forum meeting on Europe and Asia.
Condemning the US drone raids within the Pakistani territory, both the leaders termed the US missile strikes as attack on sovereignty and autonomy of the country.
A source said the president and the prime minister were unanimous that attacks of the US drones in North and South Waziristan were a violation of the Pakistani territorial sovereignty and it should be halted immediately.
The source said the issue of the much-trumpeted expansion in the cabinet also came under discussion and it was decided that the cabinet would be expanded before the president’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
Online adds: President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, taking serious note of continuing drone strikes by the US and allied forces inside Pakistan’s territory, agreed on taking up the issue with the US authorities.
In the one-on-one meeting, they also agreed on pursuing consultative process with the coalition partners in the government on the issue of expansion of the cabinet and using fund acquisition from the IMF as last option to steer the country out of financial crisis.
Sources said both the leaders took serious notice of day-to-day attacks by the US and allied forces inside Pakistan borders, and agreed on holding direct talks with senior US officials for bringing an end to these violations.
Regarding cabinet expansion, President Zardari asked Prime Minister Gilani to hold final consultations with the coalition partners, particularly the ANP and the MQM.
On the economic situation, the president said no loan would be obtained from the IMF on tough terms, and focus would be placed on the Friends of Pakistan to bring the country out of the financial crisis.
“We are pinning hopes on the conference taking place in Dubai on November 17 in this respect. If no considerable success is achieved there, then the IMF would be approached but loans would be obtained from it on Pakistan’s own terms,” the president added. President Zardari sounded upbeat that his visit to Saudi Arabia would yield positive result.
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