The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, held a meeting on Monday night with the top businessmen in the country, in the presence of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. While no official statement has been issued about the meeting, sources suggest that the army chief expressed optimism and confidence that the current economic difficulties would be overcome. He assured the businessmen that Pakistan has overcome the possibility of default, and urged them to remain firm and confident.
The businessmen raised concerns about political polarization and chaos, and urged the military to ensure that this did not deepen further. They asked the army chief why politicians were not being brought together to meet the country’s challenges.
The army chief emphasized that difficult times are a natural part of a nation’s progress, and reassured the businessmen that the worst is behind them. He referred to Islamic teachings to reinforce his message of resilience and strength.
One participant, who requested anonymity, said that the businessmen had requested the meeting with the army chief. The meeting was deemed successful by the participants, and it was revealed that all prior conditions of the IMF had been met.
The businessmen were told that agreements with friendly countries to provide dollars for the country’s foreign exchange reserves should be documented, and commitments had been secured for investments in agriculture, mining, and IT, with advanced equity expected from these countries.
Sources further said the business community also expressed hope that army won’t allow unrest in the country.
