IMF Delegation Visits Pakistan for Budget Negotiations 2025
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation has visited Pakistan to negotiate the nation’s budget for the financial year 2025-26. The delegation is expected to remain in Pakistan until May 22, having meetings with Pakistan’s economic officials.
Key Discussions and Targets
The major objective of these negotiations is to complete Pakistan’s fiscal and expenditure budgets for the next financial year. Members of the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Planning Commission, the State Bank of Pakistan, the Economic Affairs Division, and the Ministry of Petroleum are representing the country in these negotiations.
The Finance Ministry targets completing all budget proposals by May 22. One of the proposals being considered is a target economic growth rate of 4.4 percent for the fiscal year 2025-26. The new budget targets being proposed include a 4.8 percent growth for the agriculture and industrial sectors and a 4.3 percent target for the services sector.
These economic targets will be first put before the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC), which is to meet on May 26. Final clearance of the targets will be taken from the National Economic Council.
Previous Fiscal Year Targets
For the financial year in question, the government had projected 3.6 percent growth. The production target for the agriculture sector was projected at 2 percent, the industrial sector at 4.4 percent, and the services sector at 4.1 percent.
