Key Points
- Shehbaz Sharif and IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva discuss Pakistan’s forthcoming programme review.
- Pakistan reaffirms commitment to fiscal reforms, revenue mobilisation and privatisation.
- IMF chief says economic stabilisation efforts are producing tangible results.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva discussed Pakistan’s forthcoming programme review and the government’s progress on economic reforms during a meeting in New York.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly as Pakistan prepares for the next review of its IMF-supported programme.
Shehbaz thanked the Fund for its continued support and appreciated Georgieva’s role in strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and the IMF.
Pleasure meeting IMF Managing Director Ms. Kristalina Georgieva in New York this morning. I thanked her for the Fund’s continued support and deeply appreciated her personal role in strengthening Pakistan’s constructive partnership with the IMF.
I reaffirmed our Government’s… pic.twitter.com/XKi1Quhh1W
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 23, 2026
An IMF staff mission is expected to visit Pakistan this month for the fourth review of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the third review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), according to a Finance Ministry official.
The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s ownership of the reform agenda and said Pakistan would maintain the pace of reforms and structural measures aimed at strengthening the economy and supporting sustainable and inclusive growth.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Prime Minister appreciated the IMF’s continued support for Pakistan’s… pic.twitter.com/hby3FfKdoI
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) September 23, 2026
He said Pakistan was moving from macroeconomic stabilisation towards economic recovery despite regional conflict and external inflationary pressures.
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Shehbaz highlighted improved fiscal discipline, stronger external buffers and growing investor confidence. He cited the National Tariff Regime, higher domestic revenue mobilisation and progress on privatisation as key elements of the government’s reform programme.
He also stressed the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable segments of society while maintaining economic reforms.
Kristalina Georgieva praised Pakistan’s performance under the IMF programme and the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy, saying the measures were producing tangible results.
The two sides also discussed continued cooperation between Islamabad and the Fund to strengthen economic resilience and sustain the reform momentum.
The IMF mission is expected to examine Pakistan’s economic performance during January-June 2026 and discuss the release of the next tranche under the EFF, as well as RSF financing.
Discussions are also expected to cover tax collection, energy-sector reforms, privatisation, governance and anti-corruption measures.
