“The Pakistani authorities and IMF staff have made significant progress toward reaching an understanding on policy priorities and reforms that could be supported by a financial arrangement with the IMF,” the statement read.
“Discussions will continue in the coming weeks toward reaching staff-level agreement,” it added.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Harald Finger visited Islamabad from November 7-20, 2018 to initiate discussions on a financial arrangement with the IMF requested by the Pakistani authorities to support their economic reform program.
“The IMF mission has been engaged in productive discussions with the Pakistani authorities on economic policies and reforms that could be supported by a financial arrangement with the IMF. In this context, there has been broad agreement on the need for a comprehensive agenda of reforms and policy actions aimed at reducing the fiscal and current account deficits, bolstering international reserves, strengthening social protection, enhancing governance and transparency, and laying the foundations for a sustainable job-creating growth path.
“Our dialogue with the Pakistani authorities will continue over the coming weeks,” Mr Finger stated at the end of the visit.
The IMF team “is grateful to the authorities for open and constructive discussions,” the statement continued.
The IMF team met with Minister of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Asad Umar; Minister of Planning Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister of State for Revenues Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Institutional Reforms and Austerity Ishrat Hussain, SBP Governor Tariq Bajwa, BISP Chairwoman Sania Nishtar, Finance Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan, FBR Chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, provincial Finance Ministers, parliamentarians, other senior officials, and representatives of the donor community.
Pakistan -- which has gone to the IMF repeatedly since the late 1980s -- is facing a widening balance of payments crisis.
But earlier this month finance minister Asad Umar said that unspecified assurances from China -- combined with a pledge made by Saudi Arabia in October -- meant that Pakistan's immediate fiscal woes were "over".
Riyadh pledged $6 billion in funding and struck a 12-month deal for a balance of payments lifeline during a visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
No further announcement has been made about any Chinese assistance.
Despite the pledges, Pakistan has said it will still seek broader IMF support for the government's long-term economic planning.
The writer is a member of the staff.
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 28, 2023 (Tuesday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 284.1 | 287.15 |
Euro | EUR | 304.5 | 307.5 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 345.5 | 349 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77.3 | 78.1 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 76 | 76.7 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.5 | 189.9 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 753.18 | 761.18 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 205.5 | 207.7 |
China Yuan | CNY | 41.44 | 41.84 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.30 | 41.73 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.92 | 36.27 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.41 | 3.52 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.06 | 2.11 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 924.09 | 933.09 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 62.84 | 63.45 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 178 | 180 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.33 | 26.63 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 735.91 | 743 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 77.43 | 78.13 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 209.5 | 211.5 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 26.5 | 26.8 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 308.97 | 311.47 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.3 | 8.45 |
KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 204,300 on Tuesday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs175,160.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,880.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Karachi | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Islamabad | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Peshawar | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Quetta | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Sialkot | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Attock | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Gujranwala | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Jehlum | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Multan | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Gujrat | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Nawabshah | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Chakwal | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Hyderabad | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Nowshehra | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Sargodha | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Faisalabad | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
Mirpur | PKR 204,300 | PKR 2,465 |
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