Pakistan, IMF weigh longer loan terms, higher reserves

Finance Minister Aurangzeb and the IMF’s Jihad Azour reviewed growth, revenues, reserves and reform steps, including longer loan maturities.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Jihad Azour, head of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department.

Both sides reviewed revenues, inflation, growth and the current account, citing resilience amid regional conflict.

Talks covered longer loan maturities, smaller external repayments, lower future foreign-exchange liabilities and higher reserves.

The minister restated plans to protect social spending while keeping primary surpluses, cutting public debt and pursuing growth-friendly tax reforms.

Export-led growth, greater private-sector role and privatisation were discussed to strengthen resilience and creditworthiness.

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