Pakistan’s “reforms” in a nutshell:
Two weeks ago, the PM’s niece flew to London on a newly purchased Gulfstream jet to attend her daughter’s graduation, do some last-minute wedding shopping, and pick up a rare Mouawad diamond set, reportedly without paying the applicable duties or government taxes.
Meanwhile, her uncle, the Prime Minister, flew at government expense on an Airbus to New York, via London, on what appears to be a leisurely 10-day trip, ostensibly to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly, the sort of rhetoric you can hear every hour at Hyde Park Corner.
I hope the IMF Managing Director raised these issues as part of the conversation around Pakistan’s reforms and fiscal discipline.
I’m not an economist, but I’d wager that between the cost of these two trips, the uncle’s and the niece’s, Pakistan could probably have waived the petroleum levy (which gives tells people is IMF mandated) on fuel for at least a week.
Just a thought for
@KGeorgieva and
@IMFNews.
I had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister
@CMShehbaz on the margins of
#UNGA to discuss Pakistan's reforms. Strong implementation has helped preserve stability, restore confidence & regain market access. Continued reforms will help lift growth & improve people's lives.