23/05/2025
๐ISLAMABAD โ A political firestorm has erupted after Pakistan received a $1 billion loan approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), just days after global rankings once again placed the country among the top nations affected by terrorism.
According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, Pakistan was listed among the five worst-affected countries for terror-related incidents. The report cited an alarming rise in attacks, casualties, and militant activities in various provinces โ particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Yet, despite the ongoing security concerns, the IMFโs executive board greenlit the final tranche of a $3 billion bailout package, triggering criticism both locally and internationally.
โThis sends the wrong message. Rewarding a state deeply entangled in terror is morally and strategically flawed,โ said a U.S. foreign affairs analyst on condition of anonymity.
The $1 billion injection comes amid Pakistanโs ongoing financial crisis, with inflation hovering near 30% and foreign reserves barely covering two months of imports.
Opposition leaders, including PTIโs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, slammed the move, calling it โan international endorsement of a state that harbors extremism while its citizens suffer economic collapse.โ
Meanwhile, human rights groups have raised concerns over the diversion of international funds. โWhereโs the accountability? IMF must attach conditions that ensure the funds go to health, education, and economic stability โ not military expansion,โ said an Amnesty South Asia representative.
๐ฌ Public Reaction on Social Media:
โข trended on X (formerly Twitter) in India and parts of Europe.
โข Critics accused the IMF of turning a blind eye to Pakistanโs internal security failure in pursuit of regional financial stability.
๐ Background: https://nhpunjab.com/pakistan-terror-rank-index-imf-loan/
The IMF deal, initiated in mid-2023, was aimed at averting a sovereign default after Pakistanโs economy teetered under mounting debt and shrinking exports. While the bailout has momentarily eased currency pressure, structural reforms remain unimplemented.
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๐ข Whatโs Next?
Analysts suggest the loan may help Pakistan avoid short-term collapse, but without meaningful action against terrorism and economic mismanagement, long-term stability remains uncertain.
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