What does IMF want from Pakistan\'s upcoming budget?

Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is shaping many of the economic policies expected to feature in the upcoming federal budget and broader reform agenda. Discussions between Pakistani authorities and the IMF have focused on fiscal consolidation, tax reforms, energy-sector restructuring, governance measures, and steps aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability. One of the IMF’s primary objectives is fiscal consolidation. Under the current programme, Pakistan has committed to maintaining a primary budget surplus, which measures government revenues against expenditures excluding interest payments on debt.The purpose of this target is to improve public finances and support debt sustainability.