Pakistan ‘very close’ to signing IMF staff level agreement – finance minister

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar speaks during a press conference in Islamabad on February 10, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 09 March 2023
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Pakistan ‘very close’ to signing IMF staff level agreement – finance minister

  • The deal is expected to unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing avenues for Pakistan
  • The IMF bailout package is vital for the country to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday his country was “very close” to signing a staff level agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

“We seem to be very close to signing the staff level agreement, hopefully, God willing, in the next few days,” Dar said at a seminar in Islamabad.

An agreement would release $1.1 billion to the cash-strapped South Asian economy.

The funds are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations.

The deal would unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing avenues for Pakistan to shore up its foreign exchange reserves, which have fallen to a lowly four weeks worth of import cover.

Islamabad hosted an IMF mission since early February to negotiate the terms of a deal, including the adoption of policy measures to manage its fiscal deficit ahead of annual budget due around June.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,917 

Updated 19 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,917 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Monday, gaining 4.86 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 10,917.04. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR3.95 billion ($1.05 billion), as 102 of the listed stocks advanced, while 147 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index increased, up 0.54 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 1,467.06. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 85.41 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 23,357.50. This comes as 19 of the listed stocks advanced, while 46 retreated. 

The best-performing stock was Tourism Enterprise Co., with its share price surging by 10 percent to SR13.53. 

Other top performers included Al Yamamah Steel Industries Co., which saw its share price rise by 8.64 percent to SR39.22, and Anaam International Holding Group, which saw a 4.05 percent increase to SR12.59. 

Alramz Real Estate Co. saw its share price rising by 3.95 percent to close at SR61.85, while Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Co. closed at SR18.08, marking a 3.67 percent increase in share price. 

On the downside, the worst performer of the day was Saudi Industrial Export Co., whose share price fell by 3.72 percent to SR2.59. 

ACWA Power Co. saw its share price fall 3.54 percent to SR177.20, while Naseej International Trading Co. declined 3.08 percent to SR29.56. 

Moreover, the share price of Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. dropped 2.95 percent to close at SR6.57, while Nice One Beauty Digital Marketing Co. saw its share price dropping 2.65 percent to SR17.97. 

On the announcement front, Alinma Capital has declared a cash dividend distribution totaling SR6.55 million for unitholders of the Alinma Saudi Government Sukuk ETF Fund.  

The dividend, covering the period from July to December, amounts to SR0.162 per unit and represents approximately 1.56 percent of the fund’s net asset value as of Jan. 15.  

Its share price closed at SR10.42 on the main market, marking a 0.1 percent increase. 

Also, Itmam Consultancy Co. has been awarded a significant project by the Digital Government Authority to develop digital investment skills within the public sector.  

The contract, officially granted on Jan. 19, is valued at more than 5 percent of the company’s total 2024 revenue.  

According to a statement, the program aims to equip government employees with the expertise needed to enhance digital government investment efficiency, focusing on software license development aligned with legal and technical standards.  

Its share price remained unchanged on Nomu at SR16.40.