IMF president is willing to virtually join the meeting but refuses the offer from the PM to visit Geneva.

•  ISLAMABAD: On Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's invitation to attend Climate Resilient Pakistan Conference in Geneva, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva excused herself from attending the moot in person, however, showed a willingness to attend it virtually.
• The IMF chief was invited to attend the conference in Geneva by Prime Minister Shehbaz, according to a statement from the PM's office. Georgieva thanked Shehbaz for the invitation but said that because the IMF board meetings were scheduled for January 9–10, "she will only be able to join the conference virtually".
• The statement said, "Georgieva contacted Prime Minister Shehbaz on the phone and conveyed her sincere sorrow and concern on the human and material losses due to the recent floods and emphasised her willingness to support Pakistan in this difficult moment.
• The managing director expressed worry about the effects of the floods, and the premier thanked her and reassured her that Pakistan is "dedicated to effectively completing the existing IMF project".

Pakistan will soon be visited by an IMF delegation.

• Earlier today, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that an IMF mission will be travelling to Pakistan in two to three days to "take up and conclude" the ninth economic assessment and free up a much-needed $1.1 billion bailout tranche.
• During a speech at the Hazara Electric Supply Company's opening, the PM stated, "I spoke to Georgieva and emphasised that Pakistan intends to conclude the IMF rescue project" (HAZECO).
• I asked her to loosen the agreement's restrictions since the masses can no longer bear this load. The premier declared, "We have imposed taxes on the wealthy sectors of society.
• "I also begged her to send a delegation for the ninth loan programme review, and she answered that IMF officials were going to visit Pakistan in a few days [2-3] days."
• The news comes as Pakistan works to calm concerns that the nation is edging closer to a default, as the ninth review of the IMF bailout programme remains deadlocked due to disagreements between the two parties.
• A $1.1 billion tranche that was supposed to be distributed in November has been delayed due to this deadlock.

Ishaq Dar and the AIIB president spoke about the donor conference.

• Ishaq Dar, the federal minister of finance and revenue, spoke virtually with Jin Liqun, the president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, about the upcoming donor conference in Geneva.
• According to a statement made in this respect by the Ministry of Finance, Dar informed the AIIB president of the economic harm caused by rain-induced floods in Pakistan.
• The statement stated: "The finance minister highlighted the economic outlook of the nation and stated that the current government inherited a weak economic legacy but is focusing on fixing things in the right direction and is introducing reforms in all sectors to achieve economic growth and development."
• Dar asserted that "the country is destined for progress and development" as a result of the government's practical initiatives.
• The bank's president, Liqun, was congratulated for taking on a second term and the finance czar expressed the hope that the bank will continue to prosper in the future under his capable direction.
• According to the ministry, the AIIB chief praised the current administration's economic policies and reforms for their contribution to the social uplift of the general public during the meeting.