On Monday, Express News reported that an IMF technical group arrived in Islamabad to discuss climate financing and policy with Pakistani officials.
Sources say the four-person IMF team will discuss climate funding solutions with federal and provincial authorities, including green budgeting and tracking.
The February 28 discussions will evaluate Pakistan’s climate adaption and financing efforts.
A carbon fee in the 2025-26 government budget is a priority.
Implementation and framework proposals will come from the IMF.
Subsidies, electric vehicles, and green budgets will be discussed. Pakistani officials will brief on climate measures and strategies.
The IMF delegation’s visit is part of Pakistan’s financial policy alignment with global climate commitments to ensure sustainable economic reforms.
In addition, the IMF’s review delegation will visit Pakistan to negotiate the next $7 billion loan tranche and climate financing.
In early March, the IMF group will visit Pakistan for the first loan programme review.
Maahir Binesi, IMF official in Pakistan, said the delegation will discuss the next loan installment and climate funding technicalities at Pakistan’s request.
Pakistan expects $1-1.5 billion in climate funding from the global lender, according to Finance Minister Aurangzeb.
To analyze governance and corruption, the IMF met with the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) last month.
Sources said the IMF mission was informed on public sector audits and openness. The mission was advised that Parliament is the highest public sector audit and accountability body.
With the Leader of the Opposition nominating the Public Accounts Committee head, the opposition can audit government institutions.
FBR officials briefed on digitalization and tax measures to increase tax transparency. The IMF was informed by SECP representatives about stock market and corporate sector ease of doing business measures.
The IMF mission met with Ministry of Climate Change and Ministry of Housing and Works officials.
