An International Monetary Fund delegation has arrived in Pakistan to begin a crucial round of economic review talks, with initial discussions held with officials of the State Bank of Pakistan.
The visit marks the start of technical-level engagements under Pakistan’s ongoing IMF programme, with a focus on assessing recent economic performance and policy progress.
According to officials, the first phase of discussions will involve detailed data sharing between the IMF team and the central bank. The delegation will be briefed on Pakistan’s economic performance from July to January, covering key indicators and policy developments.
Sources said that both sides are expected to hold in-depth discussions on foreign exchange reserves, particularly efforts to strengthen external buffers. The IMF has set a target for Pakistan to raise its reserves to $17.8 billion by June 30.
The technical sessions will also cover monetary policy, inflation trends, banking regulations and financial sector stability. State Bank officials are expected to update the IMF on policy rate decisions as well as measures related to anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing frameworks.
The visit is part of the third review under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility programme, which remains critical for Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability and external financing.
In addition, the IMF delegation will also conduct discussions under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, where Pakistan is seeking around $1.1 billion to support climate-related and structural reforms.
Officials in the finance ministry said the outcome of these engagements will play an important role in unlocking the next tranche of IMF funding and shaping the country’s economic policy direction in the coming months.