Afghanistan, May 22 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $2.1 billion bailout for Pakistan on May 9, 2025, as part of a broader $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement signed last year. While the move is aimed at stabilizing Pakistan's struggling economy, it has drawn scrutiny from international observers and regional stakeholders over potential implications and past patterns of financial management.
Critics argue that IMF support has not consistently translated into long-term economic reforms in Pakistan. Instead, repeated reliance on such bailouts-28 times over the past 35 years-has raised concerns about a cycle of dependency. Analysts say that without meaningful structural adjustments, the support risks being a ...