WASHINGTON: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday met International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026, focusing on Pakistan’s ongoing programme engagement and the impact of external shocks on the economy.
The finance minister expressed appreciation for the IMF mission team’s handling of the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), noting that a staff-level agreement had been reached and is now awaiting approval by the IMF Executive Board.
Aurangzeb briefed the IMF leadership on the economic impact of the ongoing regional conflict, particularly its effects on energy procurement and logistics, and outlined Pakistan’s policy response, including demand management measures and targeted, fiscally neutral subsidies to protect vulnerable segments of society.
He also highlighted ongoing assessments of broader economic implications, including potential impacts on inflation, growth, exports, and remittances.
The finance minister welcomed the IMF’s planned mission visit next month for budget discussions, including taxation reforms, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the programme framework as an anchor for stability and market confidence amid external pressures.
