IMF delegation to visit Pakistan for economic programme review

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on September 23 for a two-week mission to conduct reviews of the country’s ongoing economic programme. The discussions are expected to cover the fourth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the third review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Key areas of focus include fiscal targets, inflation, policy rates, and foreign exchange reserves. A significant portion of the talks will center on energy sector reforms, specifically addressing circular debt in the electricity and gas sectors. The government intends to brief the IMF on transmission system reforms and efforts to increase private-sector participation.

Additionally, the mission will review progress on the government’s privatisation programme. This includes the potential sale of electric supply companies (DISCOs) in Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Multan, which have already attracted interest from both local and foreign investors. The review will also assess state-owned enterprise reforms and measures to improve public-sector performance to ensure macroeconomic stability.