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IMF mission arrival delayed

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund mission has called off its visit to Pakistan for an indefinite period, the Finance Ministry officials confirmed on Friday.

"The Fund mission was earlier scheduled to reach Islamabad during the second week of the current month, but without specifying any reasons it has called off the visit." The officials confirmed that no new date for the mission's arrival had been communicated so far.

"The Pakistani authorities are in constant touch with the Fund management and do expect confirmation of a new date of arrival soon of the seven-member IMF delegation led by Ms. Sena Eken," said an official.

However, the officials were optimistic that a date would be confirmed soon. The mission will visit Pakistan to hold talks for the early resumption of ESAF programmme under which a tranche of $280 million is already due.

The IMF supended the ESAF programme after Pakistan went nuclear in May 1998.

The official maintained that Pakistan would also take up the issue of other instalments, which are due after July 1999. "The government would emphasise for the release of all due instalments in the shortest possible time," the official added. Fortuna