Pakistan has received $4.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under its ongoing loan programme, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday.
The briefing, chaired by Syed Naveed Qamar, covered progress under the IMF programme, with Pakistan having completed three reviews so far. Bosal said the programme is aimed at strengthening foreign exchange reserves and improving the country’s capacity to meet external debt obligations.
According to the finance secretary, IMF support has helped Pakistan manage debt repayments, advance tax reforms and reduce pressure on external payments. The government has also withdrawn several tax concessions and imposed restrictions on supplementary grants as part of efforts to control spending and increase revenue collection.
Bosal said Pakistan had generally met the programme’s conditions, although some targets remained unmet. Energy-sector circular debt was identified as a key area of concern, while the government also faces challenges in meeting targets related to state-owned enterprise losses and public spending on education and health.
The committee also discussed asset declarations by government officials. Officials said certain asset information may be withheld from public disclosure on security grounds, while the Establishment Division would review unusual holdings and take action where necessary. Members of the committee questioned the different disclosure requirements and sought clarification on the security-related restrictions.
