Pakistan, Nov. 8 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to extend electricity subsidies for protected consumers using up to 200 units per month for another six months, sources said on Saturday.

According to sources, the understanding was reached during negotiations between Pakistan and the IMF last month, following the government's efforts to provide further relief to consumers on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the proposed arrangement, the subsidy on electricity consumption of up to 200 units, scheduled to end on December 31, 2026, may now remain in place until June 30, 2027. This means the government could delay the withdrawal of the subsidy to July 1, 2027.

The IMF had previously set a target for...