Govt says IMF structural benchmarks ‘part of ongoing reform agenda’

The Ministry of Finance clarified on Sunday that the recently highlighted structural benchmarks under Pakistan’s IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) are part of a phased, medium-term reform agenda agreed with the Fund, rather than abrupt or new conditions. The clarification comes after recent commentary describing the 11 benchmarks as “new conditions.” The Finance Division said the measures build on reforms already initiated by the government and are implemented in a sequenced, step-by-step manner to achieve the program’s policy objectives. The Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) finalized after the EFF’s Second Review supplements the earlier MEFP and reflects this phased approach, ensuring continuity and deepening of Pakistan’s reform agenda.