Pakistan Senate calls on lenders to write-off debts

Pakistan's Senate unanimously called on international lenders to relieve Pakistan's debt on Tuesday, in a resolution which also asked for increased market access and investment to assist the disaster-stricken country.

Pakistan daily Dawn reported that a resolution agreed by government and opposition, and moved by newspaper Leader of the House, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, "urged the international community, in particular donor countries, IFIs including IMF, World bank and ADB to take swift measures such as writing off and/or rescheduling Pakistan's debt."

This undermines arguments made by the UK and other Western governments for not considering debt relief - i.e. that Pakistan does not want or need debt relief. Those governments need to urgently reconsider their positions and support debt relief for Pakistan.

We urge activists to take further action and call on the British government to suspend Pakistan's debt payments and support an immediate audit of Pakistan's debts.

More on the story can be found at Dawn.