Herald Finger, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission chief to Pakistan, denies reports that IMF has given Ishaq Dar the Finance Minister of the year 2016 for South Asia award.
IMF took notice of the situation when finance ministry released a communiqué on 8th October which stated that Emerging Markets, the newspaper of the IMF / World Bank Annual Meeting, has declared Senator Ishaq Dar as “Finance Minister of 2016 for South Asia”.
“The Award is recognition of Pakistan’s economic performance at the IMF / World Bank Annual Meeting which is one of the major gatherings of international financial and economic leaders and experts. The finance minister has authorised Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani, to receive the award on his behalf,” the press release of the ministry read.
Herald addressed newsmen via video link on Thursday in which he explained that IMF has no links with the magazine “Emerging Markets”.
Corroborating Herald’s claims, Wafa Amr who is IMF’s Washington-based media contact person for Pakistan was also present at the occasion said, “The IMF is not involved with the Emerging Markets publication.”
Herald further stated various reasons indicating why Ishaq Dar is not a likely candidate to win the award. He stated that unless the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) isn’t made transparent, it will lead to an increase in external debt of Pakistan. Load-shedding issue was also raised along with reforms which are needed in the energy sector.
