The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meets today to discuss Pakistan’s request for financial assistance. Officials say the country expects approval of around $1.2 billion under existing programmes.
The IMF’s board calendar for 8 to 14 December confirms that Pakistan’s case is on the agenda. The board will review the staff-level agreement recently reached with Islamabad. If approved, Pakistan could receive a $1 billion tranche under the current loan programme.
Additionally, the country may get the first $200 million instalment from the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), which supports climate-related projects. Final disbursement will depend on the board’s decisions during the meeting.
Earlier reports indicated that Pakistan had agreed to a key IMF condition requiring a special audit of supplementary grants issued over the past ten years. Officials confirmed that Pakistan also accepted another requirement to limit the federal government’s discretionary power in issuing these grants.
The IMF’s technical mission visited Pakistan on November 11 to assess progress on budgetary targets. Discussions over the past ten days focused on public finance management reforms and measures to improve transparency in the budget process.
A digital Public Finance Management Assessment was reviewed during the talks, including oversight mechanisms for the digitized PFM master plan. Sources say these discussions were aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline and ensuring efficient use of funds.
With the IMF board meeting today, Pakistan awaits final approval for the proposed disbursements. Observers note that timely release of funds could provide relief for the country’s ongoing fiscal and economic challenges.
Analysts also highlight that the meeting underscores Pakistan’s commitment to implementing reforms required by the IMF. These include improved audit processes, tighter oversight of grants, and enhanced transparency in government financial operations.
The outcome of the meeting will have significant implications for Pakistan’s budgetary stability and broader economic planning. Both the $1 billion tranche and the RSF instalment are expected to support key sectors, including climate and sustainability initiatives.
As the IMF board meets today, stakeholders across Pakistan closely monitor developments, hoping for positive decisions that could bolster economic recovery and fiscal management.
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