The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its staff report on Pakistan. It underscores the need to strengthen Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures to protect the country’s financial system.
The report says robust enforcement remains critical to financial stability, investor confidence, and sustained economic reform.
According to the IMF, Pakistani authorities are updating the National Risk Assessment on money laundering and terrorist financing. Officials expect to publish the revised assessment by March 2026. The update aims to identify emerging risks better and align Pakistan’s regulatory framework with international standards.
The IMF noted that the government is prioritising risk-based AML supervision. Special attention is being given to real estate agents and dealers in precious stones and metals. These sectors are more exposed to illicit financial flows and require stronger oversight.
By tightening supervision, authorities aim to close regulatory gaps and improve compliance across non-financial businesses.
The report also highlighted progress on transparency. The central beneficial ownership register maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is expected to become digitally accessible by January 2026. This step will improve information sharing, support law enforcement, and strengthen corporate accountability.
Despite progress, the IMF stressed that Pakistan needs to do more to assess the macroeconomic impact of trade-based money laundering. The report urged authorities to introduce targeted mitigation measures to reduce vulnerabilities in cross-border trade. Stronger controls, the IMF said, will help limit revenue losses and protect the formal economy.
Sources said the next IMF review talks with Pakistan are expected in March 2026. Discussions will cover both the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). During the talks, the IMF will review Pakistan’s economic performance for the first six months of the current fiscal year.
