International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has urged Pakistan to “collect more taxes from the wealthy and protect the poor people” amidst soaring inflation following the nation’s securing of a last-minute bailout in July.
Pakistan’s year-on-year inflation for the month of August leaped to 27.4pc, contracting household budgets.
That same month, exorbitant electricity bills led to a protests across the country.
The rattled government had initially promised some relief for the public, but later ruled it out citing Pakistan’s commitments with the IMF.
Speaking to Geo News after meeting caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Georgieva said that she believed this was in line with what the people of Pakistan would like to see for the country.
“What we are asking in our programme is that please collect more taxes from the wealthy and please protect the poor people of Pakistan,” she said.
“I do believe this is in line with what people in Pakistan would like to see for the country.”