New York: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not being fair to Pakistan, adding that the country is in “a perfect storm” of crises.
In a wide-ranging interview with foreign media on Friday, Bilawal said Pakistan was facing an economic crisis, as a result of last year’s devastating floods and terrorism that was “rearing its ugly head once again”. .
Criticizing the IMF, Bilawal said that the People’s Party supported increasing revenue collection and believed that those who are good should pay more. But he added that Pakistan had failed to achieve structural tax reforms “in the last 23 IMF programs that we have been a part of.”
“Is it really time to think about our tax policy and tax collection when we are dealing with an environmental catastrophe of this scale?” Bilawal asked.
He said the IMF was not being fair to Pakistan, which was also dealing with 100,000 new refugees following the Western withdrawal from Afghanistan and a “steady increase in terrorist activities within our country”.
The foreign minister added that the IMF was stepping up talks at a time when the country needed money to help the “poorest of the poor”.
“And they’re being told that until their tax reform is done, we’re not going to end the IMF program.”
He said that Pakistan was able to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, as well as inflation and supply chain disruptions. But then last year’s floods ravaged the country, calling it “the biggest, most devastating climate disaster we’ve ever experienced.”
He added that Pakistan had “extremely healthy economic relations” with China that were “in light as a result of geopolitical events”.
He said the government was “very grateful” for the $1.3 billion loan Beijing announced earlier this month, especially in light of the flooding.
The foreign minister said that the government of China has supported Pakistan whether it was by waiving our debts or by providing economic assistance in one form or the other. “I am not worried about this issue at this time. We need help and support from wherever we can get it.
He said the government “wants to work with anyone, including Russia” to meet the country’s energy needs and provide relief to citizens paying for expensive imported fuel. He added that he believed there was now room for imports from Russia within the US price range.
Talking about Pakistan-US relations, Bilawal said that we are on a healthy path.
He pointed to discussions on climate, health, technology and trade. He added that Pakistani officials had recently met to discuss counter-terrorism.
Bilawal said that the alleged influence of Pakistan on the Taliban has always been exaggerated.
He said that however, Pakistan has always maintained the importance of dialogue with the Taliban on terrorism and other issues, especially women’s education and employment rights. Pakistan would like to see the Taliban take action against all terrorist groups, but said there are questions about their ability to fight those groups.
Bilawal said his advice to the West is to negotiate with the Taliban “regardless of what is happening on the ground”. He said that without a functioning economy, there would be “no room” for the Taliban to implement political decisions.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said Muslims around the world were being targeted by “new fascist policies” as he strongly condemned Islamophobia at the United Nations, JEE News reported. Commemorate the International Day Against Islamophobia with a rousing call to everyone – of any religion or creed – to stand together in the fight against hatred, bigotry and intolerance.
Hatred against Muslims is being spread under a well-thought-out strategy. Muslims are being targeted because of their religion,” the foreign minister asserted, as he said the motive behind politicizing issues like the hijab was solely to target Islam.
He said that since 9/11, hostility and institutionalized suspicions against Muslims and Islam have become epidemic all over the world.
The Foreign Minister said that despite protests to the contrary, Islam and Muslims are associated with terrorism.
In some cases, he said, the rhetoric of incitement to hatred and violence is officially inspired, noting that repeated massacres of Muslims are carried out with complete immunity from officially sanctioned neo-fascist policies and ideologies. has been provoked. “The policies and violent actions of those who deny the right of Muslim people to self-determination represent the worst manifestation of Islamophobia today.”
“Unfortunately,” the foreign minister said, “the virus of Islamophobia is spreading faster than we have been able to react. “Even the largest democracies are not immune. We have seen restrictions on Muslims exposed in democratic societies. So-called free societies allow the desecration of holy books and holy places.
“Even my region is not immune to democratic secular societies from the danger of turning into religious and Islamophobic states,” the foreign minister said.
“Today, we must renew our commitment to building an inclusive society where different cultures and beliefs are celebrated and diversity is embraced. We cannot afford to ignore dangerous ideologies and divide us as humanity. actions can be ignored.
FM Bilawal said that the announcement by the General Assembly to celebrate March 15 as the International Day against Islamophobia is a manifestation of global solidarity with both known and unknown victims of Islamophobia.
The meeting has been jointly convened by the Office of the President of the General Assembly and Pakistan as Chairman of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Last year, the 193-member Assembly passed resolution 76/254 designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Miguel Moratinos and others were also present in the meeting.
