PM, IMF chief discuss economic reforms

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva late on Wednesday in New York, on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly, Business Recorder reported. Sharif thanked the Fund for its continued backing of Pakistan's economy and restated the government's firm commitment to carrying out the IMF-supported reform programme. He also credited Georgieva with helping to build a more constructive relationship between Pakistan and the Fund.

Sharif said the government fully owns the reform agenda and wants to keep its momentum, while advancing structural steps aimed at durable, inclusive growth. He maintained that Pakistan is shifting from stabilisation toward recovery despite regional conflict and external inflation, backed by careful fiscal and monetary decisions. Cited gains included stronger fiscal discipline, better external buffers and greater investor confidence, along with the National Tariff Regime, higher domestic revenue collection and privatisation progress.

Sharif also stressed that protecting vulnerable groups would proceed alongside the reforms. Georgieva praised Pakistan's performance under the programme and said the government's stabilisation efforts are producing visible results. The pair discussed the upcoming IMF programme review and continued cooperation aimed at deepening reforms, strengthening resilience and sustaining growth. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Privatisation Adviser Muhammad Ali and SAPM Tariq Fatemi also attended the meeting.