Pakistan, IMF enter policy talks as loan review nears conclusion

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have entered the policy-level phase of discussions regarding the country’s ongoing $7 billion loan programme, following the completion of technical talks.

The IMF delegation –  led by Nathan Porter –  met with Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his economic team, including Finance Secretary and Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), to assess Pakistan’s economic performance from July 2023 to February 2024.

The government has reiterated its commitment to adhering strictly to the conditions of the loan programme.

Policy-level talks underway

The discussions, expected to continue for two weeks, will focus on key fiscal indicators, revenue collection, tax and energy sector reforms, and the overall macroeconomic situation.

The review mission will present its recommendations to the IMF Executive Board, which is expected to make a decision on the release of the next $1.1 billion tranche by the end of March or early April.