PM confirms IMF deal in final stages as Pakistan agrees to tough conditions

• PM Shehbaz due to meet IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva soon.
• Thanks China, S Arabia and UAE for their support in IMF deal.
• Felicitates Erdogan on fiery Palestine-focused UNGA speech.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in the final stages of approval as Pakistan has accepted all its conditions — some of which are quite tough.

"There is an IMF board meeting tomorrow. We have fulfilled all their conditions which were very strict," the prime minister told reporters in response to a question, after attending the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.

In this regard, the premier profusely thanked China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying that "without their support, this would not have been possible."

He revealed that some of the global lender's conditions were related to China, who, once again, "held hands and cooperated" with Pakistan just as it had done the past.

He is due to meet IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva soon.

According to sources within the Ministry of Finance, the IMF executive board will hold a meeting today wherein approval of Pakistan's loan is expected. 

The premier said his government had accepted the economic challenge to the country and now, with collective efforts of the government and all institutions, it has overcome those challenges.

"Economic indicators are gradually improving with hard work, day and night", the PM added.

PM congratulates Erdogan

Additionally, PM Shehbaz met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and congratulated him on his passionate address to the 79th session of the UNGA that centred on the Palestinian crisis.

"The way the Turkish President highlighted the issue touched the hearts of all those listening to him in the Assembly hall," he told reporters after meeting with the Turkish leader on the sidelines of the Assembly's 79th session.

In his emotional address, Erdogan said that the values of the United Nations system and the Western world are dying in Gaza as the conflict continues there, calling for an "alliance of humanity" to stop Israel's aggression.

The Turkish leader strongly criticised Israel over its military campaign in the Gaza Strip and on the Western countries for their support to Israel.

"Along with children in Gaza, the United Nations system is also dying, the truth is dying, the values that the West claims to defend are dying, the hopes of humanity to live in a fairer world are dying one by one," Erdogan added.

PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan and Turkey share "brotherly relations" and that President Erdogan "would soon pay a visit to Pakistan."

PM meets Kuwaiti crown prince 

PM Shehbaz also held a bilateral meeting with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah wherein he expressed his desire in economic investments under the rubric of Special Investment Facilitation Cell.

The PM affirmed the long-standing cordial relations between the two brotherly countries and expressed Pakistan’s keenness to strengthen these ties further.

During the meeting, the two leaders also reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, ranging from political, economic and defense cooperation to people-people exchanges.

PM Shehbaz also expressed his desire to engage with Kuwait in mutually beneficial economic investments under the rubric of Special Investment Facilitation Cell.

The two leaders affirmed to closely collaborate bilaterally, as well as on regional and global issues of mutual interest.