The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged that Pakistan has made significant progress towards the revival of the bailout in recent days. Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF’s Resident Representative, said on Monday that considerable progress has been achieved in policy discussions for the ninth EFF review. She emphasized that the primary focus at this stage is to secure adequate financing to support the authorities’ policy implementation. Ruiz also mentioned that a staff-level agreement would be reached once the remaining few…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) turned down a request to increase the number of Benazir Income Support Program beneficiaries, which dealt a blow to the Pakistani government’s efforts to aid the average citizen (BISP). Authorities had proposed expanding the social assistance program’s coverage to provide quarterly stipends to up to 20 to 30% of the people who live in poverty. Although the IMF had approved and endorsed raising the BISP allocation for the current fiscal year for 8.9 million beneficiaries…

On Friday, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Fawad Chaudhry, claimed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has demanded Pakistan halt its long-range missile program. Speaking to the media outside Lahore High Court, Fawad Chaudhry stated that the IMF had asked Pakistan to “stop” its defense program. He also criticized Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, accusing him of damaging Pakistan’s relations with the IMF and other international financial institutions. Fawad Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan is facing a severe threat of…