IMF mission likely to visit Pakistan in 7-10 days, finance minister says

An International Monetary Fund mission is likely to visit Pakistan within the next 10 days to discuss a new bailout programme, the country's finance minister said on Tuesday.

Pakistan last month completed a short-term $3 billion programme, which helped stave off sovereign default, but the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for a fresh, longer term programme.