During a cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his appreciation for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, recognizing his instrumental role in securing financial assistance worth $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This contribution ultimately played a significant part in obtaining the much-needed bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).In the televised meeting, the prime minister informed his cabinet about the recently reached nine-month standby agreement with the IMF, highlighting the involvement of General Asim Munir in securing $2 billion from Saudi Arabia and $1 billion from the UAE. He also extended his gratitude to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva for her contribution to the bailout package.PM Shehbaz shared with the ministers that the first installment from the IMF would be received in July. He mentioned that China had provided assistance to Pakistan several months prior to the deal, just as it has done in the past. He further noted that if Beijing had agreed to roll over $5 billion, the situation would have been different.The prime minister emphasized that while the nine-month agreement provided temporary relief for the country, it was a moment of concern rather than a matter of pride. He acknowledged that if the deal with the IMF had not been settled, the circumstances would have been distinct.The cabinet meeting served as a platform for discussing the country’s financial situation and the government’s efforts to secure financial aid to address economic challenges.