Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday briefed a visiting International Monetary Fund mission on Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, budget strategy, and ongoing reform plans as the government prepares the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27.
During the meeting in Islamabad, both sides discussed Pakistan’s economic stabilization efforts, fiscal priorities, and structural reforms aimed at strengthening long term economic stability while supporting investment and export led growth.
The finance minister told the IMF delegation that Pakistan’s external sector was showing signs of improvement, pointing to positive trends in exports and workers’ remittances on both monthly and yearly basis.
He said the government remained focused on maintaining macroeconomic stability while addressing deeper structural challenges facing the economy, particularly external liabilities and the need to accelerate sustainable growth.
Aurangzeb emphasized that the government wanted to move Pakistan away from repeated boom and bust economic cycles through reforms focused on productivity, deregulation, export competitiveness, and broader economic transformation.
The minister also stated that the reform agenda had been designed in consultation with international economists and experts and was aimed at long term economic restructuring rather than short term measures. Discussions during the meeting also covered preparations for the upcoming federal budget, fiscal discipline, external sustainability, and policies aimed at improving investment conditions and economic resilience.
The IMF mission, led by Mission Chief Iva Petrova, acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in maintaining macroeconomic stability despite global and regional economic pressures.
The IMF team also stressed the importance of sustaining reform momentum, continuing prudent economic management, and advancing structural reforms to support durable and inclusive growth.
Officials attending the meeting included State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, and senior officials from the Finance Division and Tax Policy Office.
