Pakistan's economic reforms program is on track and started to bear fruit: IMF.

WASHINGTON -- International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Pakistan's economic reforms program is on track and has started to bear fruit.

Executive Board of the IMF made this observation following completion of its first review of Pakistan's economic performance under the Extended Fund Facility.

The world lender said that decisive policy implementation by Pakistani authorities is helping to preserve economic stability.

It also noted that transition to a market determined exchange rate has been orderly and inflation has started to stabilize, mitigating the impact on the most vulnerable groups of the population.

The IMF was also appreciative of Pakistan's commitment to expanding social safety nets, reducing poverty and narrowing the gender gap.

In a statement, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF David Lipton acknowledged Pakistan's comprehensive plan to address the accumulation of arrears in the power sector.

David Lipton also noted that efforts are ongoing in Pakistan to further improve the business environment, strengthen governance and foster private sector investment. He said reforms of the state owned enterprises will help put Pakistan's public finances on a sustainable path and have positive spillovers by leveling the playing field and improving the provision of services.

The completion of the review will allow Pakistan to draw about 452.5 million dollars from the world lender bringing the total disbursements to 1440 million dollars.

Meanwhile the IMF has approved Pakistan's second tranche of $452 million under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and said Pakistan's programme was on track and had started to bear fruit, but warned that risks remain.

The approval came after the Executive Board of IMF completed the first review of Pakistan's economic performance under the EFF, said a press release issued by the lender.

The completion of the review will allow the authorities to draw about US$ 452.4 million, bringing total disbursements to about US$ 1,440 million, said the fund.

The IMF Executive Board on July 3 had approved a three-year bailout package worth $6 billion to Pakistan. Soon after the agreement was signed, Pakistan had received the first tranche of loan of $991.4 million from the fund.

Following the Executive Board's decision, First Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair David Lipton, in a statement, said that the country's EFF programme was on track and had started to bear fruit, but warned that risks remain.

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