A technical delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visiting Pakistan held a series of high-level meetings with key government institutions to assess governance and transparency mechanisms.
The delegation met officials from the Auditor General of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Additionally, discussions were held with representatives from the Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of Housing and Works.
During the meeting with the Auditor General of Pakistan, the IMF experts were briefed on the country’s public sector audit and transparency procedures. Officials highlighted that Pakistan follows a parliamentary tradition where the opposition is responsible for auditing government institutions, with the head of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) typically being a member of the opposition.
FBR officials provided insights into the ongoing digitalisation of tax collection systems, stating that tax reforms are being implemented to enhance transparency and efficiency. The delegation was also briefed on business facilitation measures and regulatory improvements in Pakistan’s corporate sector during a meeting with SECP officials.
A significant focus of the discussions with the Ministry of Housing and Works was the digitalisation of land records, which is aimed at streamlining property transactions and reducing corruption in land-related matters. Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Climate Change, the delegation explored environmental governance and sustainable development initiatives.
The IMF mission is in Pakistan for a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment, which aims to identify weaknesses in governance and suggest reforms. A comprehensive report based on these findings is expected to be published in July, outlining key structural reforms that need to be prioritized.
This visit comes as part of the IMF’s broader engagement with Pakistan to strengthen institutional transparency, improve regulatory frameworks, and promote good governance practices.