Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed the confidence that Pakistan will soon come out of the current economic crisis with collective efforts.

He was talking to delegations of the chambers of commerce and industry of Lahore and Faisalabad, which called on him in Islamabad Tuesday evening.

The finance minister said downward slide of the economy has stopped due to strenuous efforts of the coalition government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He said Pakistan needs everyone’s efforts and contribution to steer the country out of present situation. He said we will try our best to prepare a balanced federal budget, while keeping in view the economic constraints the country is facing.

He assured the delegations that utmost ef forts will be made to avoid further burdening the business community.

The finance minister said the coalition government took tough decisions to fulfill Pakistan’s international commitments and ensure timely compliance with the sovereign commitments of the country.

Ishaq Dar claimed that all formalities for the ninth review for the tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been completed however the issue of external funding is left.