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Islamabad, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif engaged in pivotal discussions with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, focusing on Pakistan’s economic reforms and potential future cooperation.
According to Press Information Department, this meeting marked the first interaction between Prime Minister Sharif and Managing Director Georgieva since the Prime Minister’s re-election and since their last discussion in Paris in June 2023. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the IMF’s support through a USD 3 billion Standby Arrangement, which is approaching its completion, with the IMF Executive Board set to deliberate on the final tranche of USD 1.1 billion shortly.
During the meeting, Managing Director Georgieva lauded Prime Minister Sharif’s leadership in efficiently securing the Standby Arrangement last year. The Prime Minister underscored his administration’s dedication to restoring Pakistan’s economic stability through rigorous structural reforms and fiscal discipline, as directed to his financial team led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The discussions also explored the possibility of Pakistan entering another IMF program to solidify the economic gains achieved and maintain a positive growth trajectory. Georgieva shared insights on the ongoing program’s review process, and Prime Minister Sharif extended an invitation to her to visit Pakistan at her convenience.