A nine-member International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, headed by Nathan Porter, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on March 3 for a critical economic review.
The discussions, set to continue until March 15, will be instrumental in shaping the country’s fiscal policies for 2025-26.
As per finance ministry sources, the review will take place in two stages—beginning with technical-level discussions, followed by policy-level negotiations.
The IMF team will engage with key institutions, including the finance ministry, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), among others.
One of the major agenda items is tax relief for the salaried class, which, according to sources, remains contingent on IMF approval.
The review will also examine Pakistan’s budgetary framework, fiscal consolidation measures, and revenue generation strategies.
Furthermore, separate discussions will be held with all four provinces to ensure fiscal targets are aligned.
Pakistan’s economic policies, covering areas such as taxation, energy pricing, and structural reforms, will be subject to thorough scrutiny before the IMF considers any further financial commitments.
Meanwhile, a technical delegation from the IMF arrived in Islamabad on Monday to discuss climate financing and associated policy measures with Pakistani officials.
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Sources indicate that the four-member IMF team will engage with both federal and provincial authorities to evaluate climate funding strategies, including green budgeting and tracking mechanisms.
Set to continue until February 28, these discussions aim to assess Pakistan’s progress on climate adaptation and financing.
