Finance minister briefs IMF on economic impact of Middle East conflict

Washington: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Tuesday briefed IMF Director Jihad Azour on the economic impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on Pakistan’s economy.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Senator Aurangzeb commenced his engagements at the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026 with a meeting with Jihad Azour in Washington, D.C.

The finance minister held a productive discussion with Mr. Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with the IMF mission team to Pakistan, on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings.

Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed appreciation for the successful Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) and conveyed his expectation for early approval by the IMF Executive Board to sustain the momentum of Pakistan’s reform program.

During the meeting, Senator Aurangzeb briefed Azour on the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, describing it as one of the most significant supply shocks in recent times.

He highlighted that the government is actively managing the second and third-order effects of the crisis, particularly in relation to economic growth and inflation.

The finance minister also underscored Pakistan’s successful Eurobond repayment and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to meeting all other bilateral and multilateral external obligations in a timely manner.

Both sides discussed progress on fiscal and structural reforms, as well as ongoing efforts to enhance revenue mobilization.

They agreed on the importance of maintaining macroeconomic stability as a foundation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Finance Minister Meets IMF Director Jihad Azour to Discuss Reform Progress and Economic Outlook

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a productive meeting with Mr. Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the… pic.twitter.com/LyTh09iHd0

— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) April 14, 2026