Islamabad

With Pakistan facing the risk of debt default due to dwindling foreign reserves, the country’s Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has appealed to the US to help Islamabad secure an early dispersal of $1.2 billion in funds under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.

According to media reports, the army chief reached out to the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on a phone call earlier in the week.

Gen Bajwa requested the White House and Treasury Department to urge IMF to expedite the bailout process and immediately release the nearly $1.2 billion that Pakistan expects to receive under a resumed loan programme.

Earlier this month, Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement over the release of the funds to support the country's fragile economy.

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The staff-level agreement will pave way for a $1.2 billion disbursement, which is expected in August.