IMF talks to begin in Islamabad on Monday: ‘We’re in a good position,’ says Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan will hold detailed discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the third economic review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, while dismissing concerns about the rollover of deposits from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking to the media, Aurangzeb said the IMF delegation has arrived in Karachi and will begin formal talks with Pakistani authorities in Islamabad from Monday. The discussions will be held under the third economic review, focusing on performance benchmarks, fiscal targets, and broader macroeconomic indicators.

“The IMF review will cover all performance criteria under the programme. We are in a good position, particularly about tax collection,” the finance minister said, expressing confidence over the government’s fiscal management.

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He added that detailed talks will be held on the revenue performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), noting that tax collection figures have shown improvement in recent months. The government will brief the IMF team on progress made toward meeting agreed targets.

Aurangzeb dismissed concerns about the rollover of UAE deposits, stating that Islamabad remains in close contact with UAE authorities.

“There is no issue regarding the rollover. We are in constant engagement with the UAE,” he said, questioning why there should be concern over the matter.

The minister reiterated that Pakistan is implementing the financing plan agreed with the IMF and remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the program.

He also highlighted progress on digital finance reforms, expressing hope that legislation on cryptocurrency will be approved soon. The government, he said, is working to bring cryptocurrency and tokenization into a formal regulatory framework to promote innovation while ensuring oversight. “We are moving forward with cryptocurrency in a structured manner,” the minister added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026