Second review talks between Pakistan, IMF start today

The second review talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, which had landed in the country on Wednesday, will get underway today, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Sources told the 24News TV channel that the IMF delegation would first meet with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) officials in Karachi and review the country’s economic situation.

The delegation would ascertain the impact of recent floods on the country’s economy, especially on budgetary targets, they said, adding that in the first phase, technical negotiations would be held between both sides during which they would share data with each other from January to June 2025.    

Sources informed that Pakistan had already met most of the targets set by the Fund. 

In the second phase, they elaborated, there would be policy-level negotiations between both sides. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb would also participate in these talks, they informed.

In case the talks remain successful, Pakistan will receive the next tranche of over $1 billion from the money-lending organization following the approval by the Board. 

The Fund would also review the steps taken by Pakistan to combat climate change, sources said, adding it would also ascertain how much money the country had spent on the provision of relief and the rehabilitation of the flood victims.     

The country has received $2.1 billion under the deal struck with the IMF in September 2024.