IMF disburses $1.023 billion to Pakistan, plans virtual budget talks
Karachi: The International Monetary Fund has disbursed a second tranche of USD 1.023 billion under the Extended Fund Facility programme for Pakistan, the central bank said Wednesday.
The disbursement of the second tranche comes on a day when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is holding virtual discussions on Pakistan’s upcoming budget, as the visit of its mission to Islamabad was delayed due to security concerns in the region.
The federal government is planning to unveil the budget for fiscal year 2025-26 June 2.
The IMF talks will continue until May 16.
The Central bank said the second tranche amount would be reflected in its foreign exchange reserves for the week ending May 16.
The amount was approved last week by the IMF board under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and allowed an additional arrangement for the USD 1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The decision to release the funds came after the IMF expressed satisfaction on the first review of Pakistan’s economic reform programme supported by the EFF Arrangement, the bank said.
The IMF noted that Pakistan’s policy efforts under the EFF had already delivered “significant progress” in stabilising the economy and rebuilding confidence, amidst a challenging global environment.
“Fiscal performance has been strong, with a primary surplus of two per cent of gross domestic product achieved in the first half of FY25, keeping Pakistan on track to meet the end-FY25 target of 2.1 per cent of GDP.
Pakistan’s gross reserves stood at USD 10.3 billion at end-April, up from USD 9.4 billion in August 2024, and are projected to reach USD 13.9 billion by end-June 2025 and continue to be rebuilt over the medium term, it was pointed out.
Meanwhile, the IMF talks that started virtually Wednesday will continue until May 16.
The global lender has appointed a new mission chief to Pakistan, and the mission is now expected to travel to Islamabad over the weekend, subject to the security situation, government sources told The Express Tribune Tuesday.
The IMF mission delayed its scheduled arrival hereTuesday due to uncertainty caused by the India-Pakistan conflict that had affected air travel across the region.
“Virtual discussions are expected to be held from today. For the second and final leg of the talks, the IMF team is expected to arrive in Islamabad Saturday and stay until May 23,” the source said.
The IMF’s Resident Representative to Pakistan, Mahir Binici, did not respond to a request for comment on the change in the travel plan.
Finance Ministry spokesperson Qumar Abbasi also did not respond to questions on the change in the travel plans.
Meanwhile, the IMF appointed Iva Petrova, a Bulgarian-origin staff member, as the new Mission Chief to Pakistan. She would join the discussions along with the outgoing Mission Chief Nathan Porter, who served in the position for an extended term.
Binici also did not comment on whether both outgoing and new mission chiefs would join both rounds of talks.
Petrova, who holds a PhD degree in economics from Michigan State University, has been serving as the IMF Mission Chief to Armenia. Previously, she had served with the missions to Israel, Iceland and Latvia.
In Pakistan, the fiscal policy is expected to remain tight in the next fiscal year too. The IMF has asked Pakistan to make a budget on the assumption of having 1.6 per cent of the GDP primary budget surplus, which will require generating about Rs 2 trillion over and above the non-interest expenses.
The tax target for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is proposed to be 11 per cent of the GDP or Rs 14.3 trillion. The IMF would examine whether the government plans to take credibly realistic measures to back the new tax target, said the sources.
The IMF has set multiple fiscal conditions, whose successful completion has so far helped smooth the continuation of the programme despite initial setbacks.
Pakistan has met the IMF targets for a primary budget surplus by the federal government, as well as net revenue collection and cash surplus targets by the four provinces.
Against a primary surplus target of Rs 2.7 trillion, the federal government reported a surplus of Rs 3.5 trillion, or 2.8 per cent of GDP.
The size of the federal budget still remains tentative due to the redoing of defence needs, and the government plans to announce less than Rs 18 trillion. The overall budget deficit target after incorporating large provincial cash surpluses is projected at 5.1 per cent of the GDP or Rs 6.7 trillion, the sources said.
PTI
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