An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is scheduled to visit Pakistan later this month to conduct the third economic review of the country’s program, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday.
The finance minister informed the Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance that the IMF team is expected to arrive by the end of the month, adding that Pakistan has shared its economic plan with the lender and that the framework does not show any external financing gap.
Aurangzeb said discussions with the United Arab Emirates are currently underway regarding rollovers of existing financial facilities, as the government continues to manage its external financing requirements.
He rejected speculation that recent fiscal measures were being driven by IMF pressure, stating that Pakistan has adequate financial capacity and did not seek emergency assistance from the international community even after recent floods.
The finance minister reiterated that improving the tax-to-GDP ratio remains critical for long-term economic stability and said the government is focused on maintaining macroeconomic stability while advancing structural reforms under the ongoing IMF program.