Islamabad

With Pakistan's economy in the doldrums, the new government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from Monday, local media reported on Sunday.

This comes at a time when the previous Imran Khan government pushed the country's economy and the revival of the $6 billion IMF programme into jeopardy by reducing energy prices, reported ARY News.

But there is uncertainty surrounding the IMF talks as Sharif is yet to decide about the new federal cabinet and the finance minister who will lead these crucial talks with the IMF.

Negotiating with IMF officials will begin from the point where it had been suspended, said the sources. Pakistan, after the talks, will formally announce the restoration of the IMF programme.

After the talks, the IMF will decide about $1 billion tranches of the bailout package, sources said.  The dialogue is expected to focus on subsidies, amnesty and new conditions, reported ARY News.

Top government officials are expected to participate virtually in the upcoming talks, according to sources.