In meeting with IMF chief, PM Shehbaz reiterates commitment to put economy back on track

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director (MD) Kristalina Georgieva in a meeting on Sunday that his government was fully committed to putting Pakistan’s economy “back on track”. In a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting in Riyadh, the premier thanked Georgieva for her support to Pakistan in securing the USD 3 billion standby arrangement (SBA) from IMF last year that was now nearing its completion. According to the state-run PTV News post on X, this was the first meeting between the prime minister and MD IMF since his re-election. They last met in Paris in June 2023 on the margins of the Summit for New Global Financial Pact. The IMF Executive Board is expected to meet tomorrow to decide on the final tranche of USD 1.1bn under SBA, the post said. The pair discussed further programs to ensure gains made in the past year were consolidated and the economic growth trajectory remained positive.