IMF, Pakistan to discuss release of sixth tranche

Officials of the International Monetary Fund and Pakistan due to meet in Islamabad on Wednesday.

KARACHI: Officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan are due to meet in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the country’s performance for the release of sixth tranche of the $11.3 billion loan.

Policy-level discussions will take place on November 1-2, according to official sources.

The last review was completed in May and the review for the release of the sixth tranche has been delayed since August over several issues, such as an increase in power tariffs and implementation of reformed general sales tax (RGST).

The meetings are also likely to discuss the revised macro-economic targets after the devastating floods caused $9.7 billion in damages. Islamabad must start repaying the loan in 2011, but if the last tranche is delayed, the repayment schedule will also be pushed back.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2010.