Pakistan is holding high-level discussions with the IMF to review fiscal targets, reforms, and sectoral deregulation. The talks aim to finalize the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP), an essential step for the continuation of Pakistan’s IMF program.
The federal secretary of finance is leading Pakistan’s economic team, while Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is expected to meet the IMF mission later in the process. Officials from various departments are participating to ensure alignment with IMF requirements and Pakistan’s reform agenda.
The ongoing discussions focus on finalizing the MEFP, which outlines Pakistan’s economic strategy and reform commitments for the current fiscal year. These meetings also assess the country’s progress on previous agreements and plans for fiscal consolidation.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is playing a key role, with its Member Customs Policy meeting the IMF mission to discuss tax targets. Broadening the tax base and increasing revenue collection remain central topics, addressing one of the IMF’s main concerns.
Pakistan is briefing the IMF on major reform initiatives, including deregulation of the sugar sector, the auto policy, and tariff adjustments across industries. Sugar sector deregulation aims to reduce government control, allowing market forces to set prices and production levels, enhancing efficiency and competition.
The automobile sector is also under review, focusing on vehicle production, pricing structures, and tariff reforms. The IMF will evaluate how these measures support Pakistan’s goals of increasing industrial competitiveness and attracting foreign investment.
These consultations mark a significant step in Pakistan’s engagement with the IMF, reinforcing the government’s commitment to economic reforms, fiscal discipline, and sectoral deregulation. Both sides aim to ensure that Pakistan meets IMF program requirements while supporting sustainable growth and market efficiency.
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