Islamuddin Sajid
12 February 2025•Update: 12 February 2025
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed Pakistan's reform agenda with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), his office said on Wednesday.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Pakistani premier briefed Georgieva on the progress made under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which according to him has played a key role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy, setting it on the path of long-term recovery.
In September 2024, Pakistan secured a new $7 billion bailout package from the global lending agency — for the 25th time.
Sharif reaffirmed his government’s commitment to sustaining the reform momentum, particularly in critical areas such as tax reform, energy sector efficiency, and private sector development.
"Wonderful to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team," Georgieva said on X. "I am encouraged by their strong commitment to Pakistan’s IMF-supported reforms and support their decisive actions to pave the way to higher growth and more jobs for Pakistan’s youthful population."
In response, Sharif said they discussed "Pakistan’s economic progress and the ongoing reforms" and also "reaffirmed our shared commitment to achieving sustainable growth and financial stability."
He appreciated the IMF’s "continued support as Pakistan transitions from macroeconomic stability to a path of sustained economic growth and prosperity."
The meeting came as the IMF team is on a visit to Pakistan as part of the ongoing $7 billion EFF.
In January, the IMF revised the GDP growth rate projection for Pakistan to 3% for the fiscal year 2025 against the earlier projection of 3.2 %.
