From what I know, most countries under American influence (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Japan, Western Europe, Canada, etc) and world financial institutions (IMF, World Bank, IDP, ADP) only helps a country if USA gives a nod. America controls many world countries economy through IMF (USA is major donor and policy maker of IMF).
At present, I think USA do not want Pakistan to get cash until Pakistani economy comes back directly under American control, through IMF. Pakistan is an unpredictable country and USA can only control Pakistan economically. Obviously, USA was not happy when Pakistan got rid of IMF in ‘Dec 2004’ and Pakistani economy was progressing fast, getting independent of outside influences. Anyhow, there is advantage with IMF loan as such loans come with lot of conditions, and IMF monitors the economy. Looting and plundering the country is possible but not that easy, and that is the reason Zardari and Nawaz may have around couple of billion dollars each, not 10s of billion dollars each.
Corrupt reputation of present rulers helps in finding reasons of not giving any cash to Pakistan. One can think themselves that when Shaukat Aziz left in Nov 2007, Pakistan had $16.5 billion cash in banks, plus billions of dollars in open market, enough to keep rupee stable at $ = Rs 60 for years. What happened today?
Anyhow, it seems that Pakistan has agreed to take IMF loan and thus USA has given the nod to IMF, so that IMF could lend Pakistan around $6 billion dollars (in the end, it could be more) at around 5 to 6 percent interest. Such loan is called ‘aid’ because of its low interest rate and generous repayment conditions, usually with repayment holiday for years. In commercial market, Pakistan with present rating could not have raised loan and even if they had, it would have been at much higher interest rate plus very harsh repayment conditions, without any repayment holiday.
Further, America has already committed with $1.5 billion aid a year for next 10 years (total $15 billion). Maybe they might come up with some more money. Hopefully Saudi Arabia may also agree to give $4 to $5 billion oil on differed payment as they are also waiting for a nod from their boss in Washington. If USA would agree then World Bank, Asian development bank, Islamic development bank, UAE, Kuwait, Japan, Canada, and Western European countries, all would start giving loan to Pakistan at concessional rates, as USA has huge influence in all these banks and countries, all of them act with American nod.
Anyhow, as far as those countries other than under American influence, Iran has already agreed to give some oil on differed payment and investment in Pakistan. Hopefully, China might also come up with some help (actually, even though it looks that decision of China is completely independent, it seems that China also makes move seeing American mood, as they have huge economical interest with USA. Amongst world influential countries, it seems that only Russia is taking completely independent decisions).
I think that if all goes well and Pakistani corrupts in office start thinking about country more than their pocket, then there is good chance that Pakistan may rebound back, as World situation was never as good for Pakistani economy as it is today. Under right policy void of corruption, Pakistan can grow even faster than last 8 years.
For instance, if confidence on ‘Pakistan’ returns than it is possible that capital that flown out of country might start returning back. If Dubai property market starts collapsing as it is expected due to world financial crises, then maybe huge fund could come back from Dubai to Pakistan too. Crude oil price has also fallen to less than $70 a barrel and could go further down, that would save Pakistan a lot of dollars from expected import bill, helping Pakistan balance of payment and economy. Pakistan imports over 300,000 barrels a day. During last fiscal year (2007-08), Pakistan imported around $12 billion worth of crude oil at an average price of $110 per barrel. This year if price stays at less than $70 a barrel, that would save Pakistan around 4 to 5 billion dollars in 2008-09, maybe more. Pakistan exports are rising and chances are that it could be around $25 billion this year. Obviously import with low crude price and due to increased rupee value, could even go down below $25 billion export. Remittances are also increasing and it might reach $7 billion dollars. I believe, Pakistan is still getting around $600 million from USA as reimbursement payment every year.
Compare to pre-2000 era, expenditure on Pakistan debt servicing … around Rs 600 billion … that also because rupee devalued 36 percent from Rs 61 to Rs 83, and interest rate in Pakistan increased several percentage points during last few months, else debt servicing would have been Rs 350 billion or less … and defence (Rs 300 billion) with respect to federal tax revenue has gone very low. In late 90s, cost of Pakistan debt servicing alone was more than federal tax revenue but in 2008-09, Pakistan is expecting Rs 1300 billion in federal tax revenue, twice what it would cost to service debt. Pakistan has already finished subsidies on oil, food, gas and electricity. So Pakistan would be left with plenty of money for development or loot (I think that all Jiyalas and ganjalas should return to Pakistan and nag their bosses for their share :)). Anyhow, I hope that Jiyalas and Ganjalas would be kind to Pakistan and would leave some money for development work too. It may be wishful thinking for Pakistan, but let hope for the best, as in the end it is Pakistan that matters. 
IMF offers $6bn package -DAWN - Top Stories; October 22, 2008
IMF offers $6bn package
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Oct 21: The United States has repeated its offer to help rescue Pakistan from the current financial crisis as diplomatic sources in Washington say the International Monetary Fund has agreed to provide $6 billion to the country to boost up its ailing economy.
“It’s hard for me to speculate,” said State Department’s deputy spokesman Robert Wood when asked if the IMF had agreed to offer a rescue package to Pakistan. But “we obviously will try to see what we can do to help Pakistan get through its financial crisis”.
Pakistan had “no choice but to seek help from the IMF,” said another State Department official. The official, who was not identified, was quoted in the US media as saying that Pakistani officials knew it would not be a popular decision in Pakistan but they had to go to the IMF.
“It won’t be popular with the public and it sends a lot of negative signals about Pakistan’s financial situation, its creditworthiness. But it’s a decision the Pakistanis are going to have to make,” he said.
The country’s inflation is running at around 25 per cent, and its foreign currency reserves are rapidly depleting, forcing the government to seek emergency cash advance from friendly countries and international financial institutions.
Pakistan is reportedly discussing a $10 billion to $15 billion support package with the IMF and other bodies.
Diplomatic sources in Washington have told Dawn that the IMF has agreed to provide $6 billion to Pakistan to stabilise its economy and to help avoid defaulting on foreign debt repayments due next year.
The money will be available at 5 to 6 per cent interest while Pakistan also has agreed to readjust its monetary policies to qualify for the loan.
The country has already withdrawn subsidies on oil and oil products, a major IMF demand that may hurt millions of ordinary consumers across Pakistan.
“Since Pakistan had already taken some of the most difficult and painful measures, the IMF is willing to help,” said a diplomatic source involved in negotiations between Pakistan and the IMF.
Diplomatic sources said the United States is playing a key role in persuading international financial institutions to help Pakistan but it is also urging Islamabad to undertake serious economic reforms.
Some of Pakistan’s key allies, such as China, also have urged Pakistan to go to the international community with concrete economic plans for seeking assistance instead of “going door-to-door, asking for money,” said Shahid Javed Burki, a former finance minister and vice president of the World Bank.
At the State Department briefing, Mr Wood refused to disclose US plans for helping Pakistan but assured Islamabad that Washington was considering various options.
“It would be premature for me to get ahead of what we may decide to do back here from Washington … but obviously, the situation there is of great concern, not just to us, but obviously to the Pakistanis,” he said.
“And so we will look at ways we can try to help Pakistan, you know, get through this crisis. But beyond that, I don’t have any specifics for you.”
Pakistan’s front-line role in fighting terrorism persuades Washington to help prevent an economic collapse. Policy planners in Washington fear that an economic meltdown will leave this nuclear-armed country of 160 million at the mercy of extremist groups like Al Qaeda and Washington wants to avoid this.
Other Western and Middle Eastern nations also have similar fears and are willing to help.
