Fund visit reaffirms economic reforms and trust

Speculations surrounding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation’s unscheduled three-day visit earlier this month, following the approval of a $7 billion bailout package in late September, were dismissed as baseless by the government and some experts. A corporate platform welcomed the visit, viewing it as a positive signal. The first formal review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is due in March 2025. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb rejected the perception that the IMF’s early visit indicated distrust in the government or discomfort with the pace of agreed reforms and policy decisions. “There were no specific concerns. It was a routine visit, part of the IMF’s standard practice for countries with active programmes. The mission reviewed updates on benchmarks and key targets,” he clarified in response to a query.