ISLAMABAD, March 4 (Alliance News): Pakistan is “well positioned” for the first review of its $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday as discussions with the global lender commenced.
Islamabad secured the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) last year to recover from an economic crisis, with the program playing a key role in stabilizing the economy.
Aurangzeb confirmed that the talks would proceed in two rounds—technical discussions followed by policy-level negotiations.
A finance ministry-released image showed officials meeting with IMF representatives, marking the start of the review, which typically lasts about two weeks.
The discussions will assess Pakistan’s fiscal reforms and policy adjustments, focusing on economic performance in the first half of the fiscal year (July-December) and potential modifications to the macroeconomic framework.
Additionally, a separate IMF delegation visited last week to discuss $1 billion in climate financing.
The review will also shape the broad parameters of the upcoming 2025-26 budget, with final approval potentially extending until Parliament passes the budget.
