The International Monetary Fund (IMF) held talks with Pakistani authorities from November 12-15 to discuss economic reforms and a $7 billion bailout approved six weeks ago. These discussions aimed to address Pakistan’s economic vulnerabilities and support sustainable growth.
Key issues included a significant revenue shortfall of 190 billion rupees and an external financing gap of $2.5 billion. Pakistan’s inability to privatize its national airline and losses in the power and gas sectors were also discussed. The IMF emphasized the need for structural reforms and continued prudent economic policies. Pakistan has faced economic challenges for decades, leading to 23 IMF bailouts since 1958.