Pakistan’s presence is notably absent from the agenda of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board meetings scheduled until May 1, 2024.
As per the IMF’s website, the agenda for the executive board meeting slated for April 29 and May 1 has been released, yet a review of the $3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA) program with Pakistan is conspicuously missing from it.
Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, has been in Washington since last week to participate in the spring meetings organized by the IMF and World Bank. His visit holds significant importance for Pakistan, given that the country’s ongoing nine-month, $3 billion loan program with the IMF is due to expire this month. Pakistan is eagerly awaiting approval from the executive board, which would enable the country to receive funds amounting to approximately $1.1 billion, constituting the final tranche of the $3 billion SBA signed last year in June 2023.
