The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking further assurances that Pakistan has fulfilled its condition to arrange $6bn in financing to reach a staff-level agreement despite confirmation from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The IMF has backed the efforts of the Pakistani authorities and welcomed the announcement of financial assistance from the nation’s “key” friendly countries. Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen and the IMF programme will disburse another tranche of over $1bn to Pakistan before it concludes in June. Jihad Azour, IMF’s Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department stressed that Pakistan was at a critical juncture and “decisive actions are required to stabilise the economy.”