An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Pakistan next week to discuss a possible mini-budget, as the country has struggled to meet IMF targets.
Facing a tax shortfall of Rs321 billion for the first half of the fiscal year (July–December), Pakistan is under IMF pressure to implement reforms through a mini-budget. The IMF’s team, led by Nathan Porter, will assess Pakistan’s economy from November 11 to November 15, focusing on the IMF loan program and the revenue gap.
This visit comes after Pakistan failed to convince the IMF of its commitment to reforms in recent virtual talks. Discussions will include Pakistan’s negotiations with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), plans for managing circular debt, and privatization efforts for public entities like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and power distribution companies (DISCOs).
The IMF is pushing for immediate reforms, as it doesn’t want to wait until February or March 2025 for budget adjustments.
