DUBAI: The talks between Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials for the third tranche of $545 million has been started in Dubai on Saturday, on the first day technical issues were discussed, ARY News reported.
Pakistan government’s delegation was headed by Secretary Finance Waqar Masood and caretaker governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Ashraf Masood Wathra on first day of meeting while Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was assigned to represent Pakistan on second day of meeting.
Official sources revealed that the talks between the two would focus on the review of economic situation of Pakistan in the second quarter (October-December).
The government is hoping to get the funds by March after fulfilling all the conditions under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility.
The IMF made an initial payment of $540 million, and in November fund officials said during a monitoring visit that Pakistan was broadly on track with reforms.
Meanwhile, in December, Pakistan received $554 million as a second tranche of the loan.
In a belated annual report earlier this month, the central bank estimated economic growth for the current fiscal year of up to four percent, surpassing forecasts by international agencies.
