20000125

IMF mission

arrival delayed

to facilitate

data compilation

ISLAMABAD: IMF review mission has delayed its visit to facilitate the compilation of good and solid data, needed for carving out Fund's new programme for Pakistan.

An advance team of IMF is coming here this week to provide technical support in the preparation of data base work, well-placed sources said here on Monday.

The visit of Fund's 'review mission' will follow the completion of data prepration regarding economic indicators at macro level, sources added.

The (advance) technical team of International Monetary Fund will stay here for seven to ten days to accomplish the data work, sources said adding that once the task is finished, the review mission will turn up to start its review drill.

In reply to a question, sources said the technical team would extend expertise to firm up the data work, ensuring that main issue is to have sound and solid database.

With the change of the government, sources said, preparation of data work was on top priority, as required to design new programme for Pakistan by this fiscal year.

The IMF mission was earlier due to visit Pakistan in January to hold talks on stalled tranche of $280 million under $1.6 billion ESAF/EFF programme.

An IMF delegation, headed by Paul Chabbrier, Director, Middle Eastern Department, visited Pakistan in December, 1999 and held meetings with new economic managers with focus on future direction of Pak-IMF relations.ÑAPP