Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged to end Pakistan’s dependency on foreign aid and IMF bailouts and surpass neighbouring nations in economic activity, as he outlined a series of bold reforms to reduce the cash-strapped government’s expenses and revive the economy.

Sharif expressed hope that the next deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package would be the last in Pakistan’s history. The government is currently in talks with the IMF for a loan estimated to be between USD 6 billion to USD 8 billion, as it strives to avert a default in a slow-paced economy.