Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his planned trip to the United States amid a "domestic state of political affairs," according to official sources.
The cancellation comes as Pakistan is in the midst of a political crisis, with opposition parties calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Dar, a close ally of Sharif, was scheduled to travel to the US to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington DC. However, the trip has now been postponed indefinitely.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the finance ministry said: "The finance minister has cancelled his visit to the United States due to the domestic state of political affairs in the country."
The spokesperson did not provide any further details on the decision or on when the trip might be rescheduled.
The cancellation of the trip comes at a critical time for Pakistan's economy, which is heavily dependent on IMF loans to maintain its fiscal stability. The IMF has been pushing for economic reforms in the country, including a reduction in government spending and an increase in tax revenue.
Dar, who has served as finance minister since 2013, has been a key figure in Pakistan's economic reforms, and his absence from the IMF and World Bank meetings could have significant consequences for the country's financial stability.
The cancellation of the trip also highlights the deepening political crisis in Pakistan, with opposition parties calling for Sharif's resignation and accusing him of corruption and money laundering. Sharif has denied the allegations and has vowed to fight them in court.
The cancellation of Dar's trip to the US is just the latest development in a rapidly evolving political situation in Pakistan, and it remains to be seen what the long-term implications will be for the country's economy and political stability.
