Pakistan repeated reliance on the International Monetary Fund has reignited debate over the country’s long-term economic direction, with analysts warning that stabilisation programmes alone cannot deliver sustainable growth. While IMF support has helped avert financial crises, critics argue that continued dependence reflects deeper structural and policy failures. Economists note that IMF programmes are designed to […]
IMF programme
Federal development spending remains slow in first five months
Development spending under the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) remained weak during the first five months of the current fiscal year, with utilisation reaching only 9.2 per cent of the annual allocation. The slowdown reflects fiscal rationing as the government works to meet contingency measures agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Read More: […]
Population growth threatens Pakistan’s economy: Aurangzeb
Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb warned that rapid population growth is a major obstacle to Pakistan’s economic recovery. He said the economy is improving under the IMF programme but faces long-term structural challenges. Climate change and high population growth, he added, threaten sustainable development. Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s population growth […]
Bloomberg Ranks Pakistan Second-Best Emerging Economy Globally
NEW YORK — In a major global recognition, Bloomberg has ranked Pakistan as the world’s second-best emerging economy, highlighting a remarkable turnaround in the country’s financial credibility and investor confidence. According to Bloomberg’s latest analysis, Pakistan’s default risk has declined by an unprecedented 2,200 basis points from June 2024 to September 2025, marking one of […]
Pakistan Rethinks Foreign Aid Reliance Amid Debt Crisis
Pakistan’s economic debate is entering a new phase as policymakers and experts increasingly question the sustainability of foreign borrowing. The growing consensus is that loans should be restricted to projects with demonstrable development impact and aligned with areas of comparative advantage. A former senior IMF official from Pakistan emphasised that the “approach of accepting whatever […]
No final decision yet on civil, military salaries; tax relief planned for salaried class: Finance Minister
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that no final decision has been made yet on salary increases for civil and military employees in the upcoming budget. However, the government is actively working on measures to reduce the tax burden on the salaried class. Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Aurangzeb stated, “While no concrete announcement […]
President Zardari welcomes IMF support as Pakistan’s economy shows improvement
A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Jihad Azour, met President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on Friday. They reviewed Pakistan’s economic situation and progress under the IMF programme. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, and other senior officials also attended. President Zardari thanked the IMF for its strong support, […]
India questions IMF’s financial support to Pakistan amidst terrorism allegations
In a recent statement, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its $1 billion loan to Pakistan, alleging that the funds would be used to finance terrorism. Singh’s remarks come after escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu […]
Pakistan witnesses strong growth despite tough IMF Programme: Tarin
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, said Saturday that Pakistan witnessed a strong V-Shaped growth despite being in a tough International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. In a tweet here, the minister said that the IMF programme was necessitated by unsustainable current account deficit and falling foreign currency reserves, and a vicious Covid […]
Don’t go away
What have we – another crucial moment for national economy? And how does our Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government respond to it? Responsibly, of course, showing great maturity, doing the right thing by the people it is committed to serve and refusing to be held back by a campaign promise. The petty minded will be quick to […]