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The State Bank of Pakistan has received a $1.3 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund.
The State Bank of Pakistan confirmed on Wednesday that it received around $1.3 billion from the International Monetary Fund after the completion of the most recent evaluation of Pakistan’s economic reform program.
The central bank said on X that the IMF Executive Board approved the disbursement of SDR 760 million under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and a second tranche of SDR 154 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) during its meeting on May 8.
The SBP reports that the total cash received is SDR 914 million, about $1.3 billion, transferred on May 12.
The central bank stated that the influx would be evident in Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves for the week concluding on May 15.
Last Monday, the IMF sanctioned the third assessment of Pakistan’s reform strategy, facilitating the most recent disbursement. The disbursement comprises over $1.1 billion from the EFF and nearly $220 million from the RSF, resulting in a cumulative total of approximately $4.8 billion across both programs.
The IMF recognized Pakistan’s enhancing economic statistics but cautioned that the nation remains susceptible to external threats, especially due to instability associated with the protracted conflict in the Middle East.
“The authorities’ strong implementation, despite the Middle East war, has maintained economic stability and improved financing and external conditions,” the Fund said in its statement.
The IMF emphasized the necessity of upholding prudent economic policies and expediting structural changes to enhance resilience and guarantee sustained long-term growth.
Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, emphasized the increasing global uncertainty, asserting that Pakistan must maintain disciplined macroeconomic management while accelerating reform initiatives to mitigate future economic shocks.
The SBP, in its semiannual economic report published on Tuesday, observed that while macroeconomic stability enhanced during the initial half of fiscal year 2026, ongoing tensions in the Middle East persist as threats to inflation, trade, remittances, and overall economic activity.
Latest News
AI labour displacement danger minimal in short term: Bridgewater
Bridgewater Associates says the risk of AI-induced mass layoffs will stay low this year, as limits on computer power and a robust economy will dampen the technology’s near-term impact on employment.
The research report gives some more details:
Adoption remains restricted, with less than 20% of U.S. companies reporting AI use in any business function in a two-week span, mostly in information, technology and professional services, Bridgewater said using Census Bureau data.
The survey said more than 90% of companies adopting AI reported no impact to employment during the preceding six months, while more said they increased than decreased headcount in those that were impacted.
Bridgewater highlighted two dangers to that prediction in the near term: an escalation of the Iran conflict and cost pressures from corporations’ AI capital investments.
Even if the labor market remains subdued, Bridgewater cautions that without the help of AI to cool the economy, the Federal Reserve may struggle to manage inflationary pressures in a tight labor market.
Entertainment
Kinza Hashmi speaks out on significant security threats
Pakistani actor Kinza Hashmi has disclosed that she is facing major security threats. She said that she has had many instances with stalkers which has made it difficult for her to trust anyone around her.
The actress revealed in an interview that a foreign-based obsessive admirer was able to influence members of her domestic staff by paying them money. She said her seven-year veteran staff had been passing around confidential information behind her back, including photos from her house, her personal possessions and even shots of her prescription.
Hashmi said she was “so shaken” by the breach of privacy and that it “really affected me in terms of trusting people”.
She remembered another unsettling event too where another stalker found their way onto the set of one of her play shows and then tried to find out her residence. But he could not find her apartment number, and was barred from entering.
She stated she had to turn to on-set workers for help with the situation, characterizing such events as very upsetting for public figures.
“Celebrities often face such harassment but it is often difficult to file a case or make a formal complaint,” Hashmi noted.
Latest News
Pakistan, Italy sign visa-free pact for diplomatic passports
Ambassador of Pakistan, Ali Javed and Italian Secretary General Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, have recently signed Agreement to abolish requirement of visas for diplomatic passports.
The signing ceremony was hosted at Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs here in Rome.
Ahead of ceremony, both dignitaries convened one-on-one talks. Expressing satisfaction with substance, intensity and soaring trajectory of their two nations’ strategic cooperation, both sides reviewed full spectrum of their traditionally cordial & cooperative bilateral engagement & cooperation at multilateral platforms including UN & EU.
Both sides termed the finalization of the accord as reflection of mutual trust & friendship and an excellent addition to their existing wide range of bilateral mechanisms for exchanges and cooperation. The Agreement shall facilitate smooth exchanges of diplomatic delegations and strengthen bilateral engagement.
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