IMF Board Likely to Approve And Deposit $1.2 Billion in SBP Next Month
Intelligence report synthesized for precision. Verified source updates below.
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Sources said the IMF Executive Board’s calendar will add Pakistan’s loan agenda item for May 2026 in the coming two weeks.
The Staff Level Agreement was reached on March 28 following the completion of the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is currently in Washington for the Spring Meetings of the Bretton Woods institutions, where he held detailed talks with IMF, World Bank, and other global financial officials.
Discussions centered on Pakistan’s economic stabilisation efforts, reform progress, and external financing outlook.
The finance minister earlier said the IMF board might meet in mid-May in Washington to review and potentially approve the SLA, which would clear the next tranche of funds for Pakistan.
An IMF mission had initially arrived in Islamabad on February 25 but later continued engagements virtually due to regional tensions, eventually finalising the SLA in late March. Another IMF team is expected to visit Pakistan in May for pre-budget consultations, a routine part of programme monitoring.
Disbursements under IMF arrangements are released in stages, subject to successful reviews and Board approval. The current EFF programme is scheduled to continue through 2027, pending completion of remaining reviews.
Officials also indicated that Pakistan has not yet decided whether it will pursue a new IMF programme after the current arrangement ends, with internal consultations still ongoing.
During his Washington visit, the finance minister also met senior officials from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, multilateral institutions, and credit rating agencies.
Talks with a senior US Treasury official covered macroeconomic stability, external account management, and reforms aimed at improving investment conditions, regulatory systems, and cooperation in energy, minerals, and financial integrity frameworks.
