ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said “considerable progress” had been made in discussions with Pakistan regarding its financial assistance programmes, adding that talks would continue in the coming days.
In a statement issued after talks with Pakistani authorities, IMF mission chief Iva Petrova said discussions were held on the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The meetings took place in Karachi and Islamabad, as well as virtually, from February 25 to March 11, 2026.
“While considerable progress was made in the discussions, these will continue in the coming days, including to more fully assess the impact of recent global developments on Pakistan’s economy and the EFF-supported programme,” Petrova said.
The IMF noted that programme implementation under the EFF remained broadly aligned with the government’s commitments through the end of February 2026.
According to the statement, discussions focused on sustaining fiscal consolidation to strengthen public finances, maintaining a sufficiently tight monetary policy to keep inflation within the target range of the State Bank of Pakistan, and advancing reforms to improve the financial viability of the energy sector.
Petrova said particular attention was given to deepening structural reforms as the government aims to accelerate economic growth while strengthening social protection and rebuilding spending on health and education.
The IMF also acknowledged progress made by Pakistan in implementing reforms to enhance climate resilience under the RSF arrangement.
“The authorities have also made good progress in implementing their reform agenda to strengthen climate resilience, including the completion of reform measures under the RSF,” the statement said.
The discussions also reviewed the potential impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Pakistan’s economic outlook, including implications for the balance of payments and external financing needs amid rising energy prices and tightening global financial conditions.
The IMF said talks between its team and Pakistani authorities will continue with the aim of concluding the review of the country’s ongoing programmes.