Pakistan, Oct. 4 -- Pakistan appears set to secure over $1 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by mid-October, despite falling short on some reform targets. Technical-level talks with the IMF have concluded, and policy-level discussions begin Monday. Officials expect the review to wrap up by October 9 or 10, possibly leading to disbursement of the third tranche under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility.

The IMF has acknowledged improvements in Pakistan's power sector, particularly in reducing circular debt and boosting collections. However, concerns remain over weak federal tax collection and missed budget surplus targets by provinces-especially Punjab and Sindh. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) fell short of revenue g...