Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation led by Jihad Azour - Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department - to discuss the ongoing IMF programme and Pakistan’s economic outlook.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the meeting focused on Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators, the pace of institutional reforms, and the next phase of cooperation under the Fund’s programme.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahad Cheema, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Amjad Zubair Tiwana were also present during the meeting.
The premier expressed satisfaction with the government's implementation of the IMF-supported reform agenda, stating that Pakistan, by the grace of Allah, was now moving towards development after achieving a degree of economic stability.
"Accelerating macroeconomic and institutional reforms remains our top priority," he said, adding that the government is committed to ensuring long-term economic sustainability.
The IMF team appreciated the government's efforts in stabilising the economy and reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in its reform drive.
The ongoing IMF programme, which focuses on fiscal discipline, tax reforms, and energy sector restructuring, remains crucial for Pakistan as it looks to build investor confidence and maintain macroeconomic stability.
The meeting comes amid reports that Islamabad is eyeing a fresh long-term programme from the IMF to replace the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) that ended earlier this year. Officials say a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is likely to be negotiated in the coming weeks.
