ISLAMABAD
\nDespite the country\u2019s improved economic performance, the latest round of economic review talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded without a staff-level agreement.
\nHowever, sources privy to the development said that pending issues could be resolved through virtual discussions in the coming weeks.
\nAccording to officials familiar with the negotiations, Pakistan will be required to implement several measures under the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) before securing the next tranche of the IMF loan.
\nAmong these conditions is a further increase in the petroleum levy by Rs 10 per litre, raising it from Rs 60 to Rs 70 per litre.
\nThe government has reportedly expressed its willingness to impose a carbon levy, should the IMF demand it.
\nThe Fund has also urged further reforms in the tax and energy sectors, emphasizing the need for broadening the tax base and eliminating subsidies that distort market pricing. It has reiterated its long-standing demand for bringing the retail, real estate, and wholesale sectors into the formal tax net.
\nSources within the Ministry of Finance indicate that while no immediate agreement was reached, the IMF Executive Board is expected to review Pakistan\u2019s progress in May.
\nIf the agreed-upon conditions are met, the Board will approve the disbursement of the next tranche of $1 billion under tunder the $7 billion loan programme.
\nDespite Pakistan\u2019s efforts to meet the IMF\u2019s fiscal consolidation targets, concerns remain over the pace of privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), particularly the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
\nAlso Read: IMF wants higher revenue; Pakistan pledges to cut public spending
\nThe IMF has repeatedly pressed Pakistan to accelerate these reforms as part of broader economic stabilization measures.
\nOn March 14, the government successfully convinced the global lender that no mini-budget will be introduced before the end of June.
\nOfficials from the Ministry of Finance claim the IMF has expressed satisfaction with the country\u2019s economic performance, paving the way for the release of the next tranche of $1 billion under the $7 billion loan programme.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Despite the country\u2019s improved economic performance, the latest round of economic review talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded without a staff-level agreement. However, sources privy to the development said that pending issues could be resolved through virtual discussions in the coming weeks. According to officials familiar with the negotiations, Pakistan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-467209","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n