Islamabad, February 20: A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Islamabad starting February 25. The team will review Pakistan’s economic reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack announced at a press conference, “From February 25, the IMF staff team will visit Pakistan to discuss the third review under the EFF and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).”
She noted that these reviews are linked to policy standards and reform commitments.
Kozack emphasized that Pakistan’s policy efforts under the EFF have contributed to stabilizing the economy and restoring confidence. She highlighted improvements in key economic indicators, stating, “Fiscal performance has remained strong. Pakistan recorded a primary fiscal surplus of 1.3 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2025, in line with program targets.”
Regarding inflation and the external account situation, she mentioned, “Core inflation has remained relatively contained, and for the first time in 14 years, Pakistan recorded a surplus in the current account in fiscal year 2025.”
The IMF also mentioned Governance Reforms. A recent government report on governance and corruption assessments proposed reforms such as simplifying tax policy, ensuring equal opportunities in public procurement processes, and increasing transparency in asset declarations.
The IMF team will assess progress on fiscal consolidation, Inflation Control, external stability, and structural reforms.
It is noteworthy that Pakistan has struggled with balance of payments pressures and high inflation in recent years, relying on IMF-supported programs to restore macroeconomic stability.
The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) provides long-term financial assistance linked to structural reforms. Future disbursements are contingent upon meeting performance targets based on periodic reviews.
