Pakistan \\\'s central bank chief resigns ahead of IMF loan review

ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (AFP): The governor of Pakistan's central bank has resigned, finance ministry officials said Friday, on the eve of a regular International Monetary Fund review of a $6.7 billion bailout loan.
Yaseen Anwar was appointed governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in October 2011.
He resigned on Thursday citing personal reasons, finance ministry spokesman Shafqat Jalil told AFP, though analysts said policy differences had made his departure likely for some time.
The government on Friday appointed deputy governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra as the acting governor until further notice, the finance ministry said in a statement.
The IMF approved the package for the country in September last year, subject to strict economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector and tax system.
Finance ministry officials confirmed that talks between Pakistan and IMF officials for the third tranche of $545 million were due to be held from Saturday in Dubai.