Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Tuesday said the government did not want to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but had to take this ‘tough decision’ to pull the country out of the prevailing economic crisis. “Pakistan needs $8 billion to pay back loans and $28 billion to run the country,” he lamented, adding the government has to take difficult decisions to make the country self-sustainable. “This is a difficult time for the country but we have to face it and bring stability and progress to our country at any cost,” he told an event arranged by the Pakistan Post to mark the World Post Day. Emphasizing on the continuation of accountability process in the country, Fawad said the process of accountability will continue despite all hue and cry by the corrupt people. About the demand of requisitioning of National Assembly session by the opposition on the issue of arrest of Shehbaz Sharif, he said the government has no objection if the required majority agrees to call the assembly session. “In the whole world, the governments play role to strengthen the institutions and empower their people while in our country the previous governments have weakened the institutions,” he said. “They made excessive appointments in all departments on favoritism basis which ruined the institutions,” he said. “We have to make our country financially stable. If all the institutions start relying on government for funds, it will transfer the entire burden on the common people who are paying taxes,” he said. “We cannot run Pakistan to make people happy sitting in different institutions, assembly and other places. If we want sustainability, we have to correct ourselves first,” he added. The minister said all those institutions, either fall under his ministry or other, will have to reach self-reliance through adopting innovative means and following transparency in all matters. Published in Daily Times, October 10th 2018.