Islamabad: The arrival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Pakistan this month has not yet been confirmed for talks on the next economic review.
Sources in the Finance Ministry said there is still no official confirmation regarding the mission’s visit. The discussions could therefore be held virtually instead of through an in-person visit.
According to the sources, the IMF is currently satisfied with Pakistan’s performance against its agreed targets. The issuance of bonds by Pakistan is reportedly one of the major factors behind the IMF’s positive assessment.
However, the country’s rising power-sector circular debt could become a major challenge for the government. Pakistan may face tough questions from the IMF over the growing debt during the upcoming review talks.
The IMF has also required Pakistan to reduce government expenditure. The federal government has already started taking measures to control official spending and has issued a formal notification in this regard.
The upcoming discussions will cover the targets achieved by Pakistan up to June 2026. The IMF is also expected to communicate new targets and conditions for the current fiscal year.
The next review will be important for Pakistan’s economic programme and the release of the upcoming tranche. A final decision on whether the talks will be held physically or virtually is expected soon.
