Pakistan needs an assurance from friendly countries of bilateral financing they committed earlier to secure an IMF deal, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday, calling it the last hurdle to unlocking funds from the global lender.

Several friendly countries have made commitments to support Pakistan during previous IMF reviews, Dar said, adding that the IMF was now asking that those countries "complete and materialise" those commitments.

Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the IMF. (Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Krishna N. Das)