Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked on Tuesday that the disbursement of the final $1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the stand-by arrangement (SBA) would contribute significantly to enhancing economic stability.
The IMF’s executive board, meeting in Washington on Monday, approved the immediate release of approximately $1.1 billion to Pakistan, completing the second review under the SBA and bringing the total disbursements under the arrangement to about $3 billion.
The approval was unanimous except for India, which abstained. The IMF highlighted Pakistan’s stronger policy efforts under the SBA, which have supported economic stabilization and modest growth. However, the Fund stressed the need for Pakistan to continue its policy and reform efforts, including strict adherence to fiscal targets, while protecting vulnerable segments of society from the impact of these reforms.
PM Shehbaz’s statement followed his meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s special meeting in Riyadh, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing Pakistan’s economy.
