Pakistan, Sept. 26 -- The International Monetary Fund has expressed satisfaction with a briefing from State Bank officials during Pakistan's fourth review. The development comes as the IMF prepares to begin formal policy-level talks with Pakistan's economic team.

The IMF mission will travel from Karachi to Islamabad on Saturday for the next phase of discussions. According to finance ministry sources, formal talks with the economic team will start on Monday.

The mission spent three days in Karachi and held meetings with State Bank officials and the Sindh government. Sindh officials briefed the mission on the province's surplus budget contribution to the federal government. They also shared details about provincial revenue collection duri...