Dar to hold talks with IMF in Dubai next week

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will leave for Dubai on Monday (Feb 1) to lead talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission for the 10th quarterly review of the Extended Fund Facility programme, official sources said on Friday.

Pakistan and IMF have already kick-started review talks in Dubai and first technical round will be completed by the end of this month.

Mr Dar and Herald Finger, IMF’s mission chief, will lead respective sides in policy level talks starting next week, officials in the Ministry of Finance told APP.

Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood Khan, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Ashraf Mehmood Wathra and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan will assist the finance minister.

After an expected agreement between the two sides, Mr Finger is expected to visit Islamabad for holding a joint press conference with Mr Dar.

Recommendations will be made for releasing 11th tranche of $500 million to Pakistan after the successful conclusion of talks.

The sources added that Pakistan authorities would brief the IMF delegation in details on tax revenues, reforms in energy sector and privatisation programme during the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2016

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Faisal Bajwa

Jan 30, 2016 01:07pm

Why doesn't IMF ever recommend to tax the rich, cut government's lavish spending, and reduce monetary corruption?

Recommend 0

BRIJ

Jan 30, 2016 01:38pm

@Faisal Bajwa In fact, IMF does exactly so. However, Pakistani politicians befool IMF that they are doing like it. Befooling is the most common trait of Pakistani politicians.

Recommend 0

Parvez

Jan 30, 2016 03:06pm

The World Bank and the IMF ( instruments of U.S foreign policy ) with Mr. Dar's unfettered help will burden Pakistan with enough debt that Pakistan will never be able to repay.......and then thy will take their pound-of-flesh.

Recommend 0

Yes Man

Jan 30, 2016 04:23pm

Is it another talk to borow more money? No problem, future generation will keep paying for next fifty years. Does anyone knoe, why politicians go to Dubai and London all the time?

Recommend 0

Yes Man

Jan 30, 2016 04:30pm

@Faisal Bajwa Good question. Even if IMF recommended to tax rich, who will take that advice? Not rich politicians or their influence peddling friends. Look all politicians and their sons snapping up expensive properties in Dubai and London, and their pappas visit their frquently to finalize the deals. Yes, thats how it works, rich getting richer. Children dying in Thar, open manholes in street, fith, garbage all over major city streets, water and electricity problems, but rich [polticians very very busy. Busy doing what, your guess is just as good as mine. No sense keep crying.

Recommend 0

FAISAL BAJWA

Jan 30, 2016 06:32pm

@Yes Man IMF neither recommends nor implements but rather sets conditions to be met before further loans are approved and governments try their best to oblige in their best interests. Capitalist transactions are not done for the working classes.

Recommend 0

Alien

Jan 30, 2016 07:35pm

dar is going to borrow more and it will be mini budget for Pakistani nation ........ shame on IMF who is giving so much money and not looking where it is going ... so many corrupt people are there in govt..................

Recommend 0

noname

Jan 31, 2016 04:24am

@Alien wc, old news

Recommend 0

Jahaalatmaar

Jan 31, 2016 07:29am

Pakistani politicians can befool and have been befooling their own people only, the outside world knows their caliber and capabilities with one or two exceptions. The IMF and the World Bank are burdening Pakistan with these huge loans only so that one day they will be able to dictate all their terms and conditions and that way will take control of the country because they know that the general public is too ignorant to know what they are doing to themselves by not waking up.

Recommend 0

Jan 31, 2016 11:55am

@Faisal Bajwa so you need IMF to tell what Pakistan has to do?

Recommend 0

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