Pakistan, IMF Enter Final Round of Economic Review Talks, Focus on Reko Diq, Tax Targets

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have entered the final round of economic review talks, with policy-level negotiations now underway and expected to conclude this week, sources told ProPakistani. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is set to participate in these high-stakes discussions, which will cover a range of critical issues, including the Reko Diq mining project, tax targets, and key economic indicators. The talks will also assess the impact of tax exemptions granted to the Reko Diq project. Sources say that, in light of recent flood-related challenges, final negotiations are expected on revised tax targets and provincial budget surpluses. A comprehensive report addressing discrepancies in trade statistics will also be presented to the IMF team. Additionally, the IMF mission will receive a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s new five-year tariff policy. If the policy-level negotiations conclude successfully, the IMF mission is expected to recommend the release of a $1 billion loan tranche. The final decision will rest with the IMF Executive Board, which will review the mission’s report before approving.