NATIONAL NEWS
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to receive a major financial boost next month as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has scheduled a board meeting for December 8 (Monday) to review and approve the country’s next loan disbursement.
According to reports shared on Thursday, the IMF is likely to release $1.2 billion to Pakistan during the upcoming session. Additionally, the country is set to obtain $200 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), alongside $1 billion through the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
Ahead of the board’s review, the government is preparing to publish the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic (GCD) Assessment Report, one of the key structural benchmarks agreed with the IMF. Sources within the Finance Ministry confirmed that all technical discrepancies related to the report have now been resolved.
The expected tranche follows a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) reached between Pakistan and the IMF on October 14, marking a step forward in the country’s ongoing engagement with the lender.
However, earlier rounds of talks between Islamabad and the IMF — particularly the second half-yearly economic review held in October — had concluded without a formal agreement. In a joint statement following those discussions, both sides acknowledged Pakistan’s “strong implementation” of loan conditions but emphasized the need for continued policy efforts to meet outstanding commitments.
Despite steady progress, the IMF had urged Pakistan to introduce additional reforms before moving toward a staff-level deal. With these measures reportedly addressed, Islamabad now anticipates formal board approval next month, unlocking much-needed external financing to support the economy.
Read more: https://nayakashmir.com/oman-eyes-new-investment-prospects-in-sindh-ahead-of-sultans-expected-visit/
