IMF says its mission will visit Pakistan this month to discuss new loan

Lender says accelerating reforms now is more important than size of the programme


Reuters May 05, 2024
PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI:

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is expected to visit Pakistan this month to discuss a new programme, the lender said on Sunday ahead of Islamabad beginning its annual budget-making process for the next financial year.

Pakistan last month completed a short-term $3 billion programme, which helped stave off sovereign default, but the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for a fresh, longer-term programme.

"A mission is expected to visit Pakistan in May to discuss the FY25 budget, policies, and reforms under a potential new programme for the welfare of all Pakistanis," the IMF said in an emailed response to Reuters.

Pakistan's financial year runs from July to June and its budget for fiscal year 2025, the first by Sharif's new government, has to be presented before June 30.

Read more: Budget targets to be set prior to IMF team’s arrival

The IMF did not specify the dates of the visit, nor the size or duration of the programme. "Accelerating reforms now is more important than the size of the programme, which will be guided by the package of reform and balance of payments needs," the IMF statement said.

Pakistan narrowly averted default last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilised after the completion of the last IMF programme, with inflation coming down to around 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

It is still dealing with a high fiscal shortfall and while it has controlled its external account deficit through import control mechanisms, it has come at the expense of stagnating growth, which is expected to be around 2% this year compared to negative growth last year.

Also read: Rupee gains strength after IMF inflows

Earlier, in an interview with Reuters, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the country hoped to agree the contours of a new IMF loan in May.

Pakistan is expected to seek at least $6 billion and request additional financing from the Fund under the Resilience and Sustainability Trust.

COMMENTS (2)

Imran | 6 months ago | Reply With imf we cant even grow our economy like interest rates which is essential fr our 10miln new jobs and growth can support taxes etc so getting rid of imf is d most important goal do or die.gdluck Pakistan
Imran | 6 months ago | Reply Its shame fr every Pakistani again going fr IMF... Never become independent does china or other countries took such IMF loans fr development Find a suitable solution and get rid these black sheep imf as they control us how to do budget and what to do with our economy which is not acceptable
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