Overview
- Reports on Tuesday said the IMF set 11 new benchmarks tied to Pakistan’s $7 billion program, with roughly $1 billion expected in early May if conditions stay on track.
- Islamabad pledged to pass the 2026–27 federal budget in line with the IMF staff-level deal, signaling a second straight year of budget-making under program terms.
- Power and gas prices will follow strict schedules, including semi-annual gas tariff notifications from July 1, 2026 and February 15, 2027 and full annual electricity price implementation in January 2027.
- Investment laws face an overhaul, with amendments to SEZ and Special Technology Zone statutes due by June 2027 and incentives for technology zones phased out by 2035, plus curbs on domestic sales from export zones targeted for September 2026.
- Tax, procurement, and financial-governance steps include centralized FBR audit selection by June 2026, PPRA rule changes by September 2026 to end SOE preferences, a merit-based NAB selection process by January 2027, an SBP roadmap for easing FX controls by early 2027, and higher BISP cash stipends from January 2027 to blunt price shocks.