ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani finance ministry said on Sunday a $6 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program was intact and the fund’s new mission was expected to arrive in Pakistan in August to review the country’s full year economic performance.
Pakistan is in talks with the IMF as part of the sixth review of a 39-month bailout programme, which began in 2019.
“The government is committed to reforms and has made significant progress since the program was launched and subsequently put on hold because of COVID-19,” state-run news agency APP reported, quoting a spokesman of the finance ministry.
Last week Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said in a TV interview there was no “disagreement” with the IMF on restructuring targets and austerity measures, saying the loan programme would continue.
Responding to reports that the World Bank had stopped loans to Pakistan, the finance ministry spokesperson said “there is absolutely no truth in this assertion and only yesterday [Saturday], World Bank has approved a loan of $442 million” to improve access to water and sanitation services for vulnerable rural communities in Punjab province.
