National ( The cow news digital ) Economic analyst Shahbaz Rana has stated that the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation left Pakistan without completing its assigned work, raising questions over the progress of ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and the global lender.
Speaking on a television program, Rana argued that the IMF is not dealing with Pakistan purely on a merit-based approach. He claimed that while confidence at the IMF Board level is reportedly improving, trust issues at the staff level continue to widen, affecting the pace and outcome of discussions.
According to his remarks, the IMF staff-level negotiations did not yield the expected flexibility, and key matters remained unresolved before the delegation departed. He suggested that this reflects deeper challenges in Pakistan’s engagement with the institution, particularly at the technical negotiation stage.
Rana further noted that despite some improvement in broader institutional confidence, Pakistan has not been able to secure sufficient concessions during detailed discussions. He linked this situation to structural issues in the negotiation process and repeated program engagements with the IMF.
Other economic experts also shared their perspectives during the discussion. Economist Aamir Qayum Sulaeri described IMF programs as similar to a course of strong medication, emphasizing that incomplete implementation often leads to recurring economic difficulties, requiring even stricter measures in subsequent agreements. He pointed out that Pakistan has entered IMF programs numerous times without completing structural reforms fully.
Another analyst, Ashfaq Tola, commented that the IMF is aware of Pakistan’s recurring economic vulnerabilities, implying that the country’s financial challenges have become well recognized at the international level.
The discussion comes at a time when Pakistan continues to engage with the IMF on economic stabilization measures, fiscal reforms, and structural adjustments aimed at improving macroeconomic stability.
The IMF has not issued an official statement confirming the claims regarding the delegation’s early departure or the status of ongoing negotiations.
