ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expects Washington to respond within the next couple of months to its request for a proposed $10 billion bilateral stabilisation facility, as Islamabad seeks to strengthen investor confidence and improve its access to international capital markets. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had earlier confirmed that Pakistan approached US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the...
The Government of Punjab has announced a major savings drive, cutting Rs35 billion from the health and education sectors to meet financial targets linked to International Monetary Fund (IMF) commitments. The decision includes surrendering unspent funds for the current fiscal year and eliminating nearly 150,000 vacant government positions. Officials say the measures are aimed at...
The IMF warns that inflation in Pakistan could surge to 6.3%, up from the current 4.5%. According to its latest assessment, by June 2026, the inflation rate might escalate further to 8.9%, a major concern compared to June 2025, when inflation was at 3.2%. The fund’s updated projections also suggest economic growth may hover around...
Funded projects increased by 3.6 percent, exceeding the World Bank’s forecast of 2.6 percent. Meanwhile, global growth is expected to decline to 3.1 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2025. ISLAMABAD: In addition to increased inflation and a growing current account deficit, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday projected Pakistan’s economic growth rate...