International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has praised Pakistan’s progress on economic reforms following a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
Georgieva said strong implementation of Pakistan’s reform programme had helped preserve economic stability, restore confidence and regain access to international markets.
“Strong implementation has helped preserve stability, restore confidence and regain market access,” she said in a post on X following the meeting.
The IMF chief added that continued reforms would help boost economic growth and improve people’s lives.
I had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister @CMShehbaz on the margins of #UNGA to discuss Pakistan’s reforms. Strong implementation has helped preserve stability, restore confidence & regain market access. Continued reforms will help lift growth & improve people’s lives. pic.twitter.com/jiELSQysYw
— Kristalina Georgieva (@KGeorgieva) September 23, 2026
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support for Pakistan’s economy and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing the IMF-supported reform programme.
The prime minister also appreciated Georgieva’s role in strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and the IMF.
Shehbaz said Pakistan was steadily moving from macroeconomic stabilisation towards economic recovery despite regional conflict and external inflationary pressures.
“I reaffirmed our government’s strong ownership of the reform agenda and our resolve to stay the course,” the prime minister said in a social media post.
He highlighted improvements in fiscal discipline, stronger external buffers and growing investor confidence, while pointing to measures including the National Tariff Regime, increased domestic revenue mobilisation and progress on privatisation.
Shehbaz said economic reforms would continue alongside measures aimed at protecting vulnerable sections of society.
Georgieva also appreciated Pakistan’s performance under the IMF programme and the government’s efforts towards economic stabilisation, saying the measures were producing tangible results.
The two sides discussed Pakistan’s forthcoming IMF programme review and continued cooperation to advance reforms, strengthen economic resilience and support sustainable economic growth.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
