IMF approves $650b aid to fight corona August 4, 2021 ISLAMABAD: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday approved the biggest resource injection in the Fund’s history, with $650 billion meant to help countries deal with mounting debt and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign media reported. The creation of the reserve assets — known as special drawing rights — is the first since the $250 billion issued just after the global financial crisis in 2009, with Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva billing it as “a shot in the arm for the world” that will help boost global economic stability. The SDR allocation will be effective on Aug 23, the IMF said in a statement.