IMF-Pakistan budget talks inconclusive over power subsidy disagreement

The budget talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for fiscal year 2025–26 remained inconclusive on Saturday, primarily due to disagreements over proposed relief measures by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The IMF reportedly raised objections to several government proposals, particularly additional power subsidies for domestic consumers. It also dismissed the government’s plan to reduce electricity tariffs for industrial users, demanding the timely tariff hikes during the next fiscal year.