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Most IMF targets met, $1.2bn tranche approval likely in May

FBR’s tax collection target for end of December 2025 could not be materialised

April 24, 2026
The International Monetary Funds logo. — AFP/File
The International Monetary Fund's logo. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has materialised 14 quantitative performance and indicative criteria out of the total 17 envisaged targets under the IMF programme for the end of December 2025.

The FBR’s tax collection target for the end of December 2025 could not be materialised, while for two other indicative targets, the relevant data was not available.

The income tax revenues collected from the retailers could not be provided to the IMF, as the FBR had agreed with the IMF for collection of a hefty amount from retailers in the current fiscal year.

The IMF staff has apprised the Fund’s Executive Board and shared a detailed report on the basis of which the Executive Board is likely to consider approval of the fourth tranche worth $1.2 billion in May 2026.

The total accumulated spending on health and education stood at Rs1,360 billion by the end of December 2025, in line with the envisaged target of IMF.

Top official sources confirmed to The News on Thursday that Pakistan and the IMF had struck a staff-level agreement under $7 billion EFF in which the Fund staff prepared its appraisal on seven quantitative performance criteria for end of December 2025 and found that the net international reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) were adjusted from negative $5.6 billion to negative $6.99 billion for end of December 2025, which was successfully met.

The ceiling on the general government primary budget deficit stood at Rs4.1 trillion for the end of December 2025, which was met. The cash transfers of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) stood at Rs326 billion, so this quantitative target was also materialised.

The IMF envisaged a target of 500,000 new return filers, and the IMF apprised in its report that the data was not available for the end of December 2025. Total government guarantees stood at Rs4,542 billion and this target was also achieved successfully.

The ceiling of SBP’s net domestic assets stood at Rs15,016 billion, which was also materialised. The ceiling of SBP stock on net foreign currency swap and forward position stood at negative $1.86 billion for the end of December 2025, in line with the envisaged target agreed with the IMF. The primary balance of provincial government was envisaged at Rs1,227 billion.

The SBP’s credit to the government remained zero, and external public payment arrears by the general government were successfully materialised.

The FBR failed to materialise the net revenue collection of Rs6,161 billion till the end of December 2025. But the consolidated net tax revenues collected by the provincial revenue authorities of Rs568 billion were achieved successfully. The ceiling on accumulation of tax refunds arrears and power sector repayment arrears related targets were materialised as agreed with the IMF for the end of December 2025.