IMF Mission Arrives in Pakistan for Talks
KARACHI: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has arrived in Pakistan and will begin talks with the State Bank of Pakistan in Karachi today, according to sources in the Ministry of Finance.
The first phase of the discussions will involve technical-level talks with officials of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), during which the central bank will brief the IMF delegation on the country’s economic performance.
According to the sources, Pakistan has achieved its target of maintaining foreign exchange reserves above $17 billion. The technical discussions will cover several key economic issues, including the current account deficit, the policy rate and the exchange rate, the sources said.
The IMF delegation will also be briefed on the increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan, as well as the successful issuance of the country’s Eurobond.
The Pakistani authorities will further brief the IMF mission on funds received from external sources, the Ministry of Finance sources said.
The IMF mission is scheduled to leave for Islamabad on September 25, where it will hold further rounds of talks with officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Privatisation, Ministry of Energy and the Federal Board of Revenue.
The discussions are part of the ongoing review of Pakistan’s economic performance under its IMF programme.
Economic Reforms and Structural Benchmarks
The ongoing discussions are expected to cover Pakistan’s progress on structural benchmarks agreed under the IMF programme, as well as targets related to broader economic reforms.
Officials will also hold discussions with the IMF on reforms in the energy sector, with particular focus on the financial position of the power and gas sectors. The issue of circular debt in the electricity and gas sectors is also expected to feature prominently during the review.
$1.2bn financing expected from IMF
Successful completion of the review could pave the way for Pakistan to receive around $1 billion under the fifth tranche of the existing EFF programme. In addition, Pakistan could receive approximately $200 million in climate-related financing aimed at helping the country address the economic impact of climate change.
Pakistan’s current IMF programme
Pakistan secured its current 37-month IMF programme in September 2024 to support economic stabilization and strengthen its external and fiscal position. Under the EFF programme, Pakistan received its first tranche of approximately $1 billion in September 2024. The country received the second tranche of around $1 billion in May 2025, followed by the third tranche of approximately $1 billion on December 11, 2025.South Asians & Diaspora.
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