ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has clarified that his statement on the floor of the Senate of Pakistan on 16th March, 2023, in response to a query regarding reasons for delay in IMF Program, is being quoted out of context.

“My comments with regards to Pakistan’s Nuclear Program was in response to a colleague Senator’s specific question, wherein, I emphasized that Pakistan has sovereign right to develop its nuclear program, as it best suits our national interests, without any external dictation, which, by no means should in any way whatsoever be linked with the ongoing negotiations with the IMF” Ishaq Dar said in a statement issued by Finance Division on Monday.

Ishaq Dar said that it is clarified that neither IMF nor any other country has attached any conditionality or made any demand from Pakistan with regard to our nuclear capability and the delay in IMF staff level agreement is purely due to technical reasons, for which we are continuously engaged with the IMF in order to conclude it at the earliest.