Pakistan, April 21 -- Newly appointed Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh on Saturday held talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to speed up the negotiation process for early finalisation of a bailout package for Pakistan.

Shaikh held a telephonic conversation with IMF Mission Chief to Pakistan Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo, said a statement issued by the finance ministry, adding that both the sides expressed their commitment to move the discussions forward. "It was agreed that an IMF mission will visit Pakistan by the end of April 2019," the statement added.

Earlier, in his first interaction with media since being appointed prime minister's adviser on finance, Shaikh revealed that he has already spoken with the fina...