BEIJING (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan held separate meetings with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Legarde and World Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Friday.

In his meeting with Managing Director International Monetary Fund Christine Legarde on the sidelines of second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, the prime minister discussed matters of mutual interests.

Imran Khan also apprised Lagarde of measures taken to improve country’s economy and the government’s planned poverty alleviation.

They discussed prospects for a comprehensive policy package and international financial support to help stabilize the economy of Pakistan.

In his meeting with Chief Executive Officer of World Bank Kristalina Georgieva, the prime minister discussed matters related to mutual interests and financial assistance package for Pakistan.

The prime minister appreciated the role played by the World Bank in regional connectivity, poverty alleviation, financial management, provisional projects, Dasu and other infrastructure projects and ease of doing business.

He informed the World Bank CEO of the recent steps taken by the government for improving the economic and fiscal situation in the country.

Khan also apprised the CEO on the socio-economic uplift measures taken up by the government and creation of “Ehsaas” social welfare programme.

On the occasion, the World Bank Chief Executive Officer pledged to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in the areas of disbursements programme lending and guarantees provision for raising external funds.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran Khan made five suggestions for progress in his address to the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

The premier said we must undertake joint efforts to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change, establish BRI tourism corridors to promote people to people and inter cultural understanding, anti-corruption office, poverty alleviation fund and concerted efforts to further liberalize trade and investment flows encouraging the private sector and businesses to collaborate in projects.

Imran Khan said Pakistan-China friendship is invincible in every challenge and both countries are cooperating with each other in various sectors.

Imran Khan added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is moving towards its next phase. The Belt and Road Forum helped Pakistan to reduce its power crisis and Gwadar is turning into a commercial hub, he said.

The premier affirmed that Islamabad is providing attractive opportunities to the investors, and told that his government planted five billion trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Imran Khan said Pakistan is the first partner of China in this mega project, and thanked Beijing for its unconditional support of Islamabad. The premier had reached China on Thursday (yesterday) on a four-day official visit to attend the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.