PM Shehbaz to Meet IMF Managing Director in Dubai

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva today (Tuesday) in Dubai on the sidelines of the World Governments’ Summit. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has been asked to join the meeting upon his return. The agenda remains undisclosed. Pakistan and the IMF will hold the first review talks from March 3 to 14 in Islamabad. The government remains optimistic about securing the tranche, however, concerns persist over the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) performance and pending amendments to the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. An IMF governance and corruption assessment mission is already in Pakistan to review financial oversight and anti-money laundering efforts. The assessment report may lead to additional conditions to the 40 already agreed upon for the current loan program.