The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is keeping a close eye on the changing situation in Afghanistan but said it was too early to gauge the economic fallout in neigbouring IMF programme countries like Pakistan.
“The IMF is carefully watching the fast-moving situation on the ground in Afghanistan,” an IMF spokesperson told an international news agency. “It is premature to speculate on the outcome and potential economic spillovers to Pakistan”.
Pakistan has a $6 billion IMF programme that began in 2019. The government and the Fund’s staff have been in talks in recent months to try to finalise the programme’s latest progress review but are yet to reach an agreement.
“We stand ready to continue supporting Pakistan achieve the objectives of debt sustainability and strong and sustainable growth,” the IMF spokesperson said.
“No date is currently set for concluding these (review) talks, as we are focused on the reforms and policy steps needed to achieve the programme objectives,” which include reducing debt and reforming the country’s energy sector, the spokesperson added.
