"long and difficult journey" to prevent knocking on the doors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) again. "If we want to get rid of loans, we need to consider this IMF programme as the final one,"= he said. In the wee hours of Saturday, the international lender announced that Pakistan and the Fund had reached a three-year $7 billion aid package deal, giving much-needed respite to the nation. The programme, which needs to be approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, should enable Pakistan to "cement macroeconomic stability and create conditions for stronger, more inclusive and resilient growth," =it said in a statement. Coming to Pakistan in the form of loans, the latest bailout follows a commitment by the government to implement reforms, including a major effort to broad­­en the country’s tax base. Addressing a meeting at the headquarters of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) today, the premier congratulated Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and other cabinet members for clinching the programme.