IMF board’s January meeting to shape future disbursements for Pakistan

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board is scheduled to convene on January 11 to endorse the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) with Pakistan, marking the inaugural review of the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

In June, the IMF Executive Board granted approval for a crucial nine-month arrangement with Pakistan, aimed at supporting its economic stabilisation programme.

This approval facilitated an immediate disbursement of $1.2 billion, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the programme’s timeline, contingent upon two quarterly evaluations.

Following negotiations between IMF staff and Pakistani authorities on November 15 in Islamabad, the SLA was successfully reached, paving the way for Pakistan to access SDR 528 million (approximately $700 million).

This latest disbursement brings the cumulative total under the nine-month $3 billion SBA to nearly $1.9 billion.

While the initial plan had tentatively slated the IMF Board meeting for December 7 to approve the initial tranche, the confirmed date is now set for January 11.