IMF mission launches review talks at State Bank of Pakistan

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has arrived in Pakistan and without wasting any time held talks with a team of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

According to sources, the SBP team briefed the IMF delegation about its policies and working.

The IMF team, which will state in Pakistan until March 11, will kickstart formal review talks with the government in Islamabad from March 2.

The IMF delegation is in Pakistan for the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

The IMF mission started engagements in Karachi with the officials of the State Bank of Pakistan. The team is expected to move to Islamabad next week for meetings with the government’s economic managers.

The review will cover Pakistan’s economic performance for July-December 2025. Mission will also hold negotiations for the release of the next tranche under EFF and RSF.

Officials said the IMF team will review tax collection, energy sector reforms, and progress on the privatization programme. 

Governance and anti-corruption measures are also on the agenda, including transparency in appointments at key institutions.

Once IMF staff and Pakistani authorities reach a staff-level agreement on the third EFF review and second RSF review, the deal will be sent to the IMF Executive Board for final approval.

After board approval, Pakistan is expected to receive about $1 billion under the EFF and about $200 million under the RSF.

Pakistan had already received $3.3 billion under both arrangements from the IMF.

Reporters: Waqas Azeem and Ashraf Khan