The Pakistan IMF governance action plan has been finalised ahead of the upcoming International Monetary Fund review mission, outlining measures to curb corruption and strengthen institutional oversight.
The 15-point framework responds to the IMF’s Governance and Diagnostic Assessment Report (GCD) and includes identifying the top 10 high-risk federal agencies vulnerable to corruption and macro-critical exposures.
Under the plan, a National Anti-Corruption Task Force will be established to coordinate efforts across agencies such as NAB, FIA, SECP, FBR, and others. The task force will operate under the AML/CFT Authority and act as the central coordinating body for corruption risk assessments.
Using a centralised Corruption Risk Assessment Framework, authorities will identify the 10 highest-risk federal agencies. A risk-reduction action plan will then be developed, with clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and defined roles for each ministry and agency.
The government also plans to align its methodology with Pakistan’s National Risk Assessment for money laundering and terrorist financing.
The action plan proposes steps to reduce the backlog of economic disputes. In the first year, authorities will develop and publish a methodology to assess the performance of courts and judges.
Read: Pakistan Faces $1.3 Billion Eurobond Repayment 2026 Amid IMF Review Talks
By the second year, a performance report covering administrative tribunals and special courts dealing with economic and commercial matters will be issued. The framework will include enhanced case management and the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
Amendments to AMLA 2010
A Joint Working Group will conduct a legislative review of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), 2010. The objective is to remove ambiguities, including whether a predicate offence conviction is required to prosecute money laundering.
The group will also review definitions, procedures, and investigative powers to strengthen enforcement. Proposed amendments will be placed before parliament and notified for implementation by June 2027.
In addition, the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) will issue corruption-specific reporting guidelines, including red flags to improve the quality of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs). The Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) will be brought under the reporting framework.
NAB will draft a national corruption risk assessment and present it to the task force for multi-agency input. The aim is to establish a unified and predictive framework for identifying systemic vulnerabilities.
The government’s 240-page action plan emphasises performance-based governance and institutional strengthening as central pillars of reform. With the IMF review mission approaching, the implementation of these measures will be closely watched by stakeholders.
