ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation reached Pakistan on Monday for a series of meetings with top officials.
The IMF’s director of the Middle East and Central Asia, Jihad Azour will head the delegation. The team will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and other officials of the Pakistani government during its visit.
The delegation arrived in Pakistan to discuss fiscal issues with special focus to restrict the target of primary deficit within the desired limits.
The officials of the ministry of finance and IMF will review the reasons behind the collection of Rs580 billion in pursuance of the tax target of Rs648 billion.
Finance adviser Hafeez Sheikh will brief the delegation on Pakistan’s economic progress. Meetings are also scheduled with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Khusro Bakhtiar and other ministers.
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The IMF delegation will be briefed on the use of the first tranche of the $6 billion loans it has extended to Pakistan, tax revenue, the trade deficit, rupee value, new monetary policy and methods to improve non-tax revenue.
In July Pakistan entered into a three-year programme with the IMF. Under the programme, it will be given $6 billion over three years and must make major changes in the country. These changes include raising taxes and levies on items like gas and electricity.
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