KAMALIA:

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Sunday that Pakistan has been in close contact with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the global lender has shown understanding on the ongoing crisis, triggered by the recent floods.

During a visit to Kamalia tehsil in Toba Tek Singh, one of the worst-hit areas, the minister said, the government is prioritising and preferring to use domestic resources before seeking additional funds. “The whole world is watching the difficulties being faced by the Pakistani people,” he remarked.

Aurangzeb noted that infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and houses, had been badly damaged. He added, it would be inappropriate to send electricity bills to residents in disaster-hit zones at this stage.

Expressing gratitude, saying that the loss of life in Toba Tek Singh remained minimal, the minister prayed for the floodwaters to recede quickly so that farmers could begin planting the next crop. “We will rebuild the infrastructure and restore it to its original condition,” he assured.

Aurangzeb also praised the scale of the ongoing relief operation, calling it unprecedented in the country’s history. He extended special thanks to the Pakistan Army for their role in rescue and relief activities.

Earlier on Friday, the IMF expressed concern and deep sorrow over the loss of lives in Pakistan’s recent devastating floods and announced that its second economic review mission would also assess the disaster’s impact on the economy, as well as the financial requirements for the recovery and reconstruction.

According to sources, the IMF team will evaluate whether Pakistan’s fiscal policies and emergency measures are sufficient to deal with the crisis.