Hopeful of IMF staff-level agreement in July, says finance minister

On Thursday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed optimism that a staff-level agreement would be reached in July and stated that the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are proceeding as planned.
The minister disclosed that virtual negotiations with the IMF are in progress during the post-budget press briefing in Islamabad, but he refrained from commenting further until a SLA with the Fund was concluded.
“I don’t want to say anything in finality other than the fact that it’s moving positively,” he stated at the press conference one day after revealing an expansionary Rs18.8776 trillion FY25 budget proposal.
The federal government’s budget, which analysts surmise has been crafted to satisfy IMF demands in order to obtain an additional $6–$8 billion bailout