ISLAMABAD: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva commended Pakistan’s efforts in effectively implementing the IMF-supported programme, highlighting the country’s improving economic performance with rising growth and declining inflation.
She expressed it when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with her on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai. She also recognised that Pakistan was on the path to growth and had undergone economic recovery.
During the meeting, both sides discussed Pakistan’s ongoing IMF programme and the macroeconomic stability achieved through the government’s comprehensive reform agenda.
The premier highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to implementing structural reforms and maintaining fiscal discipline, which had been instrumental in restoring economic stability and would be critical in driving sustainable growth, according to a PM Office press release issued on Wednesday.
PM Shehbaz Sharif underscored the progress made under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which has played a key role in stabilising Pakistan’s economy; setting it on the path of long-term recovery.
He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to sustain the reform momentum, particularly in critical areas such as tax reform, energy sector efficiency, and private sector development.
He assured the IMF chief of Pakistan’s commitment to economic prudence, efficiency, and sustainability as essential pillars for achieving inclusive and sustained growth.
Kristalina Georgieva acknowledged the prime minister’s leadership and personal commitment to driving the country’s reform agenda, which has been critical in achieving economic stability and progress.
She reiterated the IMF’s continued support for Pakistan’s reform agenda, emphasising the importance of sustained fiscal discipline, structural reforms, and good governance to ensure long-term economic stability and growth.
FINANCE MINISTER AURANGZEB
Meanwhile, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had appreciated Pakistan’s efforts toward economic growth and reforms, highlighting macroeconomic stability as a positive outcome of government policies.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Securities Exchange in Karachi, the finance minister shared insights from his key meeting with the IMF Managing Director.
He discussed taxation, energy, and state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms, emphasising that Pakistan’s economic stability was the result of effective policymaking.
Aurangzeb noted that IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in implementing the IMF programme. He also mentioned improvements in the agriculture sector and stressed the importance of addressing climate change through productive discussions.
He reiterated that the government’s role was to provide a policy framework, not to engage in business operations directly.
While acknowledging financial constraints, he emphasised the need for collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly in the insurance sector, and called for a strategic approach to sustain economic progress.
