Reforms & the IMF
STRUCTURAL reform is a prerequisite for Pakistan’s sustained economic growth. To put it bluntly, given our population and labour force growth rates, we need to grow at six per cent…
The IMF deal and beyond
THE IMF deal has finally come through after months of hard negotiations providing major relief to a teetering economy. But while the release of the much-awaited $1.17 billion may help…
IMF programme delay adding to uncertainty
There is growing unease due to delays in the IMF board approval. The Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) was reached in mid-July, with earlier expectations for board approval in mid-September. While the…
The bitter IMF pill
Pakistan, as a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), commonly known as the World Bank, has repeatedly sought financial support…
IMF is here to stay
The IMF and Pakistani authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on a 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement of about dollar 7 billion. The agreement, inked on July 12, is…
IMF programme & challenges
Pakistan’s economic journey took a momentous turn after it bid farewell to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in August 2016, after successfully completing twelfth and final review of Extended Fund…
Challenge of lower growth: IMF bailout insufficient
The IMF Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) for $7 billion programme is done. However, that does not ensure revival of the economic growth which is necessary for the young population. The government…
An IMF budget or not?
Several prominent federal ministers publicly stated that the taxation measures approved by parliament on 28 June were prior conditions of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) “successor” loan to the nine-month-long…
Climate change, austerity policy, and IMF programme
Pakistan is likely to enter into an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme – which is different from a standby arrangement (SBA) programme since, in addition to targeting macroeconomic stabilisation, including…
‘A normal country does not need IMF programme but…’
Professor Adnan Khan, Chief Economist at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK in a recent statement to the Pakistan media is reported to have stated that “A…
