An International Monetary Fund (IMF) representative hailed Pakistan\u2019s \u201cstrong\u201d economic reforms carried out under the lender\u2019s $7 billion loan programme, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Pakis\u00adtan had secured<\/a> a three-year aid package deal in July 2024. The programme, approved<\/a> by the IMF two months later, is set to allow the country to \u201ccement macroeconomic stability and create conditions for stronger, more inclusive and resilient growth\u201d.<\/p>\n IMF\u2019s Resident Representative for Pakistan Mahir Binici noted that the country\u2019s performance under the 2024 Extended Fund Facility (EFF) had been \u201cstrong so far\u201d, according to a press release issued by the SDPI on its guest lecture in Islamabad.<\/p>\n Binici termed the EFF\u2019s successful first review<\/a> \u2014 also encompassing agreement on the federal budget<\/a> blueprint \u2014 by the IMF Executive Board in May as a key milestone.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cEarly policy measures have helped restore macroeconomic stability and rebuild investor confidence, despite persistent external challenges,\u201d Binici was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n He stressed that structural reforms remained central to Pakistan\u2019s long-term economic sustainability, particularly reforms that strengthen tax equity<\/a>, improve the business climate and encourage private-sector-led investment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Addressing economists, researchers and policy experts, the SDPI statement said, Banici reaffirmed the Fund\u2019s continued support for the country\u2019s economic and climate reform agenda.<\/p>\n In March, Pakistan unlocked<\/a> a new $1.3 billion arrangement with the IMF under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility<\/a> (RSF) to build resilience against climate catastrophes through adaptation.<\/p>\n Binici noted that the RSF was designed to help countries like Pakistan bolster resilience to climate-related vulnerabilities and meet international climate commitments, the SDPI press release said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The IMF official mentioned that the key areas of reform under the RSF included enhancing public investment planning, promoting efficient and sustainable use<\/a> of water resources, improving institutional coordination for disaster preparedness<\/a> and financing, along with expanding the availability and transparency of climate-related data<\/a>.<\/p>\n Binici stressed that \u201csupport through the RSF will not only strengthen Pakistan\u2019s climate resilience but also help unlock green investments and foster a more climate-conscious economic trajectory\u201d.<\/p>\n The IMF official also shed light on the evolving economic landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and Pakistan. He stated that growth across the Mena region, as well as in Pakistan, was expected to strengthen in 2025 and beyond.<\/p>\n However, he cautioned that \u201celevated trade tensions, geopolitical fragmentation and weakening global cooperation continue to generate exceptional uncertainty and weigh on the global economic outlook\u201d, underscoring the urgent need for prudent and forward-looking policy actions.<\/p>\n SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri welcomed the IMF representative\u2019s outreach, noting the importance of informed economic dialogue and multilateral cooperation in Pakistan\u2019s journey toward sustainable development.<\/p>\n The lecture concluded with an interactive discussion on fiscal and monetary policy frameworks, external buffers and the role of international institutions in fostering inclusive growth, the statement added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n