The IMF report on streamlining business regulations states, Pakistan is among the countries that have reduced the time it takes to deal with construction permits and also to obtain a new electricity connection.
In terms of policies for right now, very unusual for the IMF, starting in March I would go out and I would say: 'please spend'. Spend as much as you can and then spend a little bit more.
Georgieva praised Russia's synchronised response to the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bank said it would take the step ahead of the closing off in mid-2022 of a flexible, $24 billion credit line extended by the IMF.
The board considers it prudent to initiate a process that allows it to replace the role of the FCL (flexible credit line) by gradually accumulating international reserves.
The review, delayed by a few months to permit an assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, showed a significant increase in the fund’s credit exposure and related risk since the last review in 2018, compounded by the pandemic.
This conference is planned to open avenues of communication between the IMF and stakeholders in developing economies to better understand the impact of the crisis and also between low income countries and middle income emerging markets given that these country groups are facing increasingly similar challenges.
The authorities will use the drawing to help meet higher financing needs whilst maintaining strong external buffers in a context of heightened global uncertainty.
In a separate announcement on Thursday, the central bank said it would buy $1.5 billion from the government for its international reserves.