25th time the charm? How Pakistan can bid adieu to the IMF once and for all

Pakistan finds itself back in the arms of the IMF — for the 25th time. The much-anticipated $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), stretched over 37 months, offers temporary relief to a shaky market. Since the July staff-level agreement, all eyes have been fixed on the Fund, fearing that any further delay could tip the fragile economy into chaos. This programme is, therefore, a lifeline — designed to ease Pakistan’s debt repayments that can unlock global financing opportunities.

The government...