Aurangzeb hails national support for structural reforms as IMF completes key reviews

ISLAMABAD, Dec 9 (APP): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday acknowledged the strong cooperation of federal ministries, government bodies, senior secretaries and provincial governments in advancing the government’s structural reform agenda and cooperation that contributed to the successful completion of the IMF’s second review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
In his opening remarks at the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting, the minister noted that this collective commitment and disciplined implementation had been central to strengthening Pakistan’s economic management and stability, a news release said.
He welcomed the IMF Executive Board’s announcement the other day confirming completion of the second EFF review, which allowed Pakistan to draw about US$1 billion, and the first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), enabling an additional US$200 million.
He highlighted the IMF’s acknowledgment that Pakistan’s strong program implementation, despite the recent devastating floods, had maintained stability and improved financing and external conditions.
Referring to the latest assessment, Senator Aurangzeb noted that the IMF had specifically recognized Pakistan’s resilience during the flood emergency, underscoring that the country did not need to make an immediate appeal for rescue and relief support.
He attributed this outcome to the fiscal and external buffers preserved by the government, which enabled Pakistan to absorb the shock and manage the crisis effectively.
He reiterated the Ministry of Finance’s gratitude for the support received across federal and provincial institutions, stressing that this coordinated effort would help consolidate progress toward economic stability.
He added that the IMF’s assessment again affirmed Pakistan’s ability to withstand the flood crisis without requiring urgent international assistance, a reflection of the country’s strengthened financial and external position, describing it as a ‘significant milestone” achieved by the government.