ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - The Federal Ministry of Finance has projected inflation at 8.6 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, according to official reports, as Pakistan and the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission reached broad agreement on the overall macroeconomic framework.
Details suggest that discussions between Pakistani authorities and the IMF delegation resulted in consensus on key economic parameters for the next budget cycle.
According to the report, the Finance Ministry has forecast real GDP growth at 4.1 percent for budget 2026–27, while average Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation is expected to remain at 8.6 percent.
The IMF has already imposed a requirement of a primary surplus equivalent to 2 percent of GDP, amounting to approximately Rs 2.9 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a virtual meeting with provincial finance ministers and their economic teams, urging provinces to focus on additional revenue measures to help achieve the required primary surplus in fiscal year 2026–27.
Senior government sources said Pakistani officials also held discussions with the IMF team on the proposed 4.1 percent GDP growth target, while the Fund had projected a lower growth estimate of 3.5 percent for the next fiscal year.