Business
Pakistan, IMF Reach Staff-Level Agreement for $1.2 Billion Disbursement – SUCH TV
Under the agreement, Pakistan will receive $1 billion through the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $200 million via the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), bringing total disbursements under these two arrangements to approximately $3.3 billion.
IMF lending programmes require countries to pass regular reviews, and once these are approved by the Fund’s executive board, the corresponding loan tranches are released.
A statement from the IMF noted, “Supported by the EFF, Pakistan’s economic programme is strengthening macroeconomic stability and rebuilding market confidence.”
The Fund highlighted that Pakistan’s recovery is progressing, with inflation under control, external buffers strengthening, and financial conditions improving as sovereign spreads narrowed significantly.
Pakistan has also committed to maintaining a tight, data-driven monetary policy and enhancing climate resilience following recent devastating floods.
Earlier on Tuesday, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb confirmed that Pakistan was set to sign the deal with the IMF, following the departure of a Fund team last week without finalizing agreements.
Aurangzeb added that the government now plans to return to international capital markets, beginning with its first green bond denominated in Chinese yuan before the end of the year, followed by at least a $1 billion international bond.
The IMF’s support in September 2024 had bolstered Pakistan’s $370 billion economy, which faced a severe crisis that led to a sharp depreciation of the national currency.
Following is the text of the IMF statement:
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Iva Petrova, held discussions during September 24-October 8, 2025, mission to Karachi and Islamabad, and in Washington DC, for the second review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms Petrova issued the following statement:
“The IMF team has reached a staff-level agreement with the Pakistani authorities on the second review of the 37-month Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the first review of the 28-month arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board. Upon approval, Pakistan will have access to about US$1.0 billion (SDR 760 million) under the EFF and about US$200 million (SDR 154 million) under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under the two arrangements to about US$3.3 billion.
“Supported by the EFF, Pakistan’s economic program is entrenching macroeconomic stability and rebuilding market confidence.
The recovery remains on track, with the FY25 current account recording a surplus the first in 14 years, the fiscal primary balance surpassing the program target, inflation remaining contained, external buffers strengthening, and financial conditions improving as sovereign spreads have narrowed significantly.
However, the recent floods- which have affected nearly 7 million people, caused over 1,000 deaths, and severely damaged housing, public infrastructure, and agricultural land- have weighed on the outlook, particularly of the agriculture sector, bringing down the projected FY26 GDP to about 3¼ -3½ percent. The floods underscore Pakistan’s high vulnerability to natural disasters and substantial climate-related risks, and the continuing need to build climate resilience.
“The authorities reaffirmed their commitment to the EFF- and RSF-supported programs, and to maintaining sound and prudent macroeconomic policies while advancing ongoing structural reforms. The authorities’ policy priorities include:
· Continuing the fiscal consolidation. The authorities remain committed to meeting the FY26 budget primary surplus of 1.6 percent of GDP, anchored in sustained efforts to mobilize revenue through tax policy and compliance measures, and stand ready to take necessary actions should revenue shortfalls risk program targets.
At the same time, the authorities are assessing the flood damage and are providing urgent flood relief support in the affected provinces via reallocations in the provincial and federal budgets.
· Strengthening poverty reduction and social protection. As social protection remains a key pillar of the EFF-supported program, the authorities are working to enhance the generosity, coverage, and administrative capacity of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
They are also committed to scaling up non-BISP health and education spending at both the federal and provincial levels to support inclusive growth and safeguard vulnerable populations.
· Advancing fiscal structural reforms. Efforts are underway to enhance revenue mobilization, broaden burden-sharing between federal and provincial governments, and strengthen public financial management.
In particular, recognizing the provinces’ vital role in domestic revenue mobilization, the federal authorities will continue deepening collaboration with provincial counterparts. The authorities are also making important progress in strengthening tax policy design, with the newly established tax policy office, which will lead medium-term reforms to simplify the tax code and reduce reliance on ad hoc measures.
· Maintaining an appropriately tight and data-dependent monetary policy. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) remains committed to a prudent monetary policy stance, guided by incoming data, including the impact of recent floods and the evolving economic recovery, to ensure inflation remains durably within its target range of 5-7 percent.
While the floods are likely to have a temporary impact on prices, the SBP stands ready to adjust its policy stance should price pressures intensify or inflation expectations become unanchored.
While the sustained buildup of international reserves is welcome, further steps are needed to deepen the foreign exchange market to facilitate transactions, support price discovery, and cushion external shocks.
· Restoring the viability of the energy sector. The authorities remain committed to preventing the accumulation of circular debt through timely tariff adjustments that ensure cost recovery and maintaining a progressive tariff structure.
Structural reforms continue to focus on enhancing the performance, efficiency, and governance of distribution companies, including through privatization; upgrading the transmission system; privatizing inefficient generation companies; and completing the transition to a competitive electricity market.
· Advancing the pace of structural reform implementation. The authorities are making progress in delivering structural reforms aimed at boosting productivity, strengthening governance, and improving the business environment to support private sector development.
Further effort is needed to advance the state-owned enterprise reform agenda and scale back the state’s footprint in the economy.
The authorities are also planning reforms to reduce government intervention in commodity markets to foster a productive, diversified, and internationally competitive agricultural sector that meets food security needs.
Efforts to boost international trade continue, including with the implementation of the new national tariff policy.
· Building resilience to climate change. The recent floods and the 2022 catastrophic events underscore the priority of building Pakistan’s climate resilience.
Policies supported by the RSF and aligned with national commitments are helping to strengthen resilience, including recently implemented reforms to promote green mobility and transport decarbonization.
The authorities remain committed to advancing future reforms, including strengthening the climate information architecture and financial risk management, improving water system resilience, establishing a framework for coordinated disaster risk financing, and aligning energy sector reforms with national mitigation commitments.
“The IMF team wants to express its sympathy to those affected by the recent floods, and is grateful to the Pakistani authorities, private sector, and development partners for many fruitful discussions and their hospitality throughout this mission.”
Business
UK to narrowly avoid recession and jobless rate to surge, Item Club warns
Britain is to “flirt” with recession and unemployment will be sent soaring amid the fallout of the Iran war, according to economic forecasters.
The latest Item Club report predicts the economy will flatline in the second and third quarters, which will leave gross domestic product (GDP) rising by 0.7% over the year as a whole, down from 1.4% expansion in 2025.
While the economy will “flirt with recession” – defined as two quarters or more in a row of falling GDP – it will also see higher oil and energy prices weigh on activity and the jobs market suffer its “biggest hit since the pandemic”, the Item Club warned.
But it predicted that interest rates will remain on hold throughout 2026 despite soaring inflation caused by the war.
Matt Swannell, chief economic adviser to the Item Club, said: “Spiralling energy costs and disruption to supply chains will push the UK to the brink of a technical recession in the middle of this year.
“Consumers’ spending power will be squeezed, while more expensive financing arrangements and a less certain global economic backdrop will pour cold water on companies’ investment plans.”
The independent forecasting group said the UK’s jobless rate will peak at 5.8% by the middle of 2027, with almost 250,000 more people without a job.
It follows a gloomy economic outlook report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week showing the UK facing the biggest downgrade to growth among the G7 group of countries, with 0.8% forecast for 2026, down sharply from the 1.3% predicted in January.
But recent figures showed the UK economy had stronger-than-first thought momentum before the Iran war impact, with data showing GDP grew by 0.5% month-on-month in February – the fastest expansion since January 2024.
The Item Club said inflation is set to soar to almost 4% in the second half of 2026 – nearly double the Bank’s 2% target – but that Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) policymakers will hold off from knee-jerk hikes to interest rates.
Mr Swannell said: “We don’t expect the Bank of England to repeat the 2022 playbook and hike interest rates as energy prices rise.
“This time policy is already restrictive, and a more fragile economy means that businesses will find it harder to pass on higher costs to the consumer.
“Instead, the MPC can stand pat as it waits for inflation to fall back before it cuts interest rates a couple more times in the middle of next year.”
Business
Pakistan says it will repay remaining $1.5 billion loan to UAE by April 23 amid IMF funding hopes – The Times of India
Pakistan has expressed hopes to repay the remaining $1.5 billion of the total $3.5 billion loan to UAE by April 23. This comes ahead of an expected $1.2 billion disbursement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following recent discussions in Washington.Spokesperson for the State Bank of Pakistan, country’s central bank told PTI, “Pakistan has repaid $2 billion of a $3.5 billion fund, which was placed by the United Arab Emirates with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) deposit with the central bank.”“The amount of $2 billion was transferred to the UAE following the maturity of deposits held by the State Bank. The remaining amount has to be paid by April 23,” he said.Earlier this week, the Saudi Fund for Development deposited $2 billion of its $3 billion support with the State Bank of Pakistan.The central bank spokesperson added that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves had remained steady due to ongoing inflows into the financial system.Meanwhile, in a separate update, Pakistan’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said in Washington that the country is anticipating a $1.2 billion release under the Staff Level Agreement (SLA) reached with the IMF after recent negotiations in the US capital. He said the IMF Executive Board is expected to meet in mid-May in Washington to review the agreement, which would clear the next tranche under the programme.The UAE had earlier extended $3.5 billion to support Pakistan’s balance of payments position, with the arrangement rolled over until recently. However, reports earlier this month suggested the UAE sought immediate repayment of funds following regional developments in the Middle East after the US-Israel launched joint strikes on Iran.In parallel, Saudi Arabia has also moved to support Pakistan’s external financing needs. The Saudi Fund for Development has signed an agreement with the SBP allowing an extension in the maturity of a $3 billion deposit. On Thursday, it deposited $2 billion of that total with the central bank, providing additional support to Pakistan’s reserves.“The agreement, signed between the SaudiA Fund for Development (SFD) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), provides for the extension in the maturity of a $3 billion deposit placed by SFD with the State Bank of Pakistan,” said a post on X by the ministry of finance.Officials said Pakistan has been paying around 6 per cent interest on the UAE-linked funds. The deposit arrangements were previously rolled over on a yearly basis, but in December 2025, the term was first extended for one month and then for two months until April 17.Pakistan’s pending billsFor the current fiscal year, Pakistan requires approximately $12 billion in external deposit rollovers, including $5 billion from Saudi Arabia, $4 billion from China, and $3 billion from the UAE.According to official figures, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $16.4 billion as of March 27, a level authorities said was sufficient to cover nearly three months of imports. The latest repayment to the UAE comes as the country continues to manage pressure on its external financial position.
Business
India’s clean energy push: Govt mulls bids for 220 MWe Small Modular Reactor – The Times of India
India is set to take a major step in expanding its nuclear energy programme, with plans to invite bids for the establishment of a 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), within the next three to six months. The project is considered as a major part of the country’s clean energy transition, officials told ET.Foreign companies will be allowed to participate in the bidding process, but only through tie-ups with local partners, an official said. The reactor design will be standardised, and the first unit is expected to serve as a model for future installations.“A cost of roughly Rs 30 crore per megawatt (MW) has been approved for BSMR-200 as a pilot project,” another official told the financial daily.
The BSMR-200 is being jointly developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). The total cost of development and construction is estimated at around Rs 5,960 crore, to be funded through the Nuclear Energy Mission. After approvals, the construction is expected to take anywhere between 60 and 72 months.Officials said that inter-ministerial consultations are currently underway to finalise the bidding details.The move follows the opening up of the nuclear sector to private investment after the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act in December 2025.“A final call on the proposal will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,” the official said, adding that domestic firms capable of executing the project on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis have already been identified.The Union Budget had already alloted Rs 20,000 crore to develop at least five indigenously designed and operational small modular reactors by 2033 under the Nuclear Energy Mission.India has also set an ambitious goal of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, alongside efforts to strengthen local manufacturing and technology development in the sector.In a recent milestone for the nuclear programme, India’s prototype fast breeder reactor reached criticality this month.
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