The message at the President's House on Tuesday was that Pakistan is moving from stabilisation to recovery. President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed the government's commitment to fiscal sustainability, energy reforms, privatisation and social protection in a meeting with IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department Director Jihad Azour, The Express Tribune reported, citing a press release from the President's Secretariat.
The numbers the president cited
According to the president, the economy grew to $452.1 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, with real GDP growth accelerating to 3.7% from 3.2% a year earlier.
He said the fiscal deficit fell to 2.6% of GDP in FY2025-26 and that Pakistan posted a primary surplus for the third year in a row.
The IMF programme and reviews
Zardari praised IMF support under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Referring to the completion of the EFF's fourth review, the RSF's third review and the staff-level agreement, he expressed confidence in continued progress towards "economic recovery and stability".
He said the government was working to raise revenue, improve tax administration, widen documentation, digitise collection and curb tax evasion, adding that the reform programme had the backing of all political stakeholders and that provinces were helping meet agreed targets.
The IMF's view
Azour acknowledged Pakistan's continued engagement under the programme and stressed that reforms must be sustained to strengthen macroeconomic stability, maintain fiscal discipline and support sustainable growth. The IMF team included Pakistan mission chief Iva Petrova and resident representative Mahir Binici; Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was among those on the Pakistani side.