When questioned about the staff-level agreement, IMF Communication Director Julie Kozack sidestepped the query during a press briefing, suggesting that negotiations are still in progress.
“At present, a mission team led by Nathan Porter is in discussions with Pakistani authorities this week to deliberate on the next phase of our collaboration.”
Read more:IMF Demands Massive Tax Hike for Pakistan’s Economic Revival
She elaborated, “On April 29th of this year, our Executive Board concluded the second review of the stand-by arrangement for Pakistan, enabling a disbursement of approximately $1.1 billion.”
Highlighting the Board’s action, she remarked, “The completion of the second and final review of the stand-by arrangement by our Board underscores the government’s robust policy efforts during the standby period, which contributed to economic stabilization.”
In response to another inquiry, the communication director stated, “With a mission currently deployed, we anticipate their completion of the task at hand before communicating the findings in due course.”
Read more:IMF Releases Final Tranche, Pakistan Eyes Economic Stability
Pakistan is actively seeking a bailout package ranging from $6 to $8 billion from the international lender over a span of three to four years to tackle its financial challenges.
The technical experts’ team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrived in Pakistan on May 10th for discussions on a new loan program and budgetary preparations.
Pakistan faces significant economic hurdles leading into the new negotiations, including the setback of a failed tax amnesty scheme proposed by the IMF.
As Pakistan navigates its economic landscape, the outcome of these IMF discussions will undoubtedly shape its financial trajectory for years to come. With the hopes of stabilizing its economy and fostering sustainable growth, the nation stands poised to embrace the results of these negotiations as it charts its course towards a more prosperous future.