The head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and said Pakistan is making progress through difficult reforms.
Pakistan’s serious reforms
Speaking about Pakistan’s economic programme, the IMF chief said, “The Pakistani government has embraced serious reforms and the fruits of action are already there.”
She said budget discipline is now producing results. “We are finally seeing the budget discipline bringing resources that can be deployed to improve the lives of people.”
She added that she looks forward to continuing the IMF programme with Pakistan.
The IMF chief said the engagement with Pakistan has been constructive for a long time.
“We have had a very constructive engagement with Pakistan for quite some time.” She expressed strong respect for the prime minister and said, “I highly respect the Prime Minister. He is serious.”
‘Man of his word’
She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif keeps his commitments. “When he gives his word that something will be done, it gets done.”
She added that meetings with Pakistan are always productive. “We always use the time effectively to identify where progress is made, where there is still more work to do.”
The IMF chief said this approach continued in the latest discussions. She praised the prime minister and his cabinet for their efforts.
“So, my high respect for the seriousness of the Prime Minister and his cabinet to carry forward difficult reforms for the betterment of Pakistan,” she added.
On January 21–22, 2026, she met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
IMF chief calls PM Shahbaz Sharif ‘man of word,’ lauds Pakistan for undertaking difficult reforms pic.twitter.com/pORMfxsswB
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) January 23, 2026
PM Shehbaz
PM Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Pakistan Pavilion on Wednesday, saying that the countryis now moving forward with a sense of success.
“Pakistan is now moving forward with a sense of success,” he said.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan further added that the country’s economic indicators are very satisfactory.
“The inflation rate has come down from 30 per cent to 5.5 per cent. Our policy rate has reached a very high level,” he further added.
Pakistan now ‘talk of the town’ globally: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari @BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/lYAct4LoYk
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) January 23, 2026
