Unresolved variable or type async await

My Project configuration is Node 6.10.0, Ionic 2.2.1, Typescript 2.0.6 and Angular 2.1.1. I have some other Ionic-native plugins v4.1.0-4.3.0. I am getting unresolved variable or type async await in my project for the current configuration. Do I need to update my Ionic/ Angular to code async/await ? will updating Ionic/ Angular affect installation of Ionic-native plugins ?

I have another project with this configuration:

 "dependencies": {
    "@angular/common": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/compiler": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/compiler-cli": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/core": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/forms": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/http": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/platform-browser": "5.0.3",
    "@angular/platform-browser-dynamic": "5.0.3",
    "@ionic-native/core": "4.4.0",
    "@ionic-native/splash-screen": "4.4.0",
    "@ionic-native/status-bar": "4.4.0",
    "@ionic/storage": "2.1.3",
    "cordova-android": "^7.0.0",
    "cordova-plugin-device": "^2.0.1",
    "cordova-plugin-ionic-keyboard": "^2.0.5",
    "cordova-plugin-ionic-webview": "^1.1.16",
    "cordova-plugin-splashscreen": "^5.0.2",
    "cordova-plugin-whitelist": "^1.3.3",
    "ionic-angular": "3.9.2",
    "ionicons": "3.0.0",
    "rxjs": "5.5.2",
    "sw-toolbox": "3.6.0",
    "zone.js": "0.8.18"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@ionic/app-scripts": "3.1.8",
    "typescript": "2.4.2"
  },

Still getting the same error mark while coding async/await. What am I missing ? Here is my async/await code:

async getImei() {
  const { hasPermission } = await this.androidPermissions.checkPermission(
    this.androidPermissions.PERMISSION.READ_PHONE_STATE
  );

  if (!hasPermission) {
    const result = await this.androidPermissions.requestPermission(
      this.androidPermissions.PERMISSION.READ_PHONE_STATE
    );

    if (!result.hasPermission) {
      throw new Error('Permissions required');
    }

    return;
  }

  return this.uid.IMEI;
}