ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will leave for Dubai on Monday (Feb 1) to lead talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission for the 10th quarterly review of the Extended Fund Facility programme, official sources said on Friday.

Pakistan and IMF have already kick-started review talks in Dubai and first technical round will be completed by the end of this month.

Mr Dar and Herald Finger, IMF’s mission chief, will lead respective sides in policy level talks starting next week, officials in the Minis­try of Finance told APP.

Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood Khan, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Ashraf Mehmood Wathra and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan will assist the finance minister.

After an expected agreement between the two sides, Mr Finger is expected to visit Islamabad for holding a joint press conference with Mr Dar.

Recommendations will be made for releasing 11th tranche of $500 million to Pakistan after the successful conclusion of talks.

The sources added that Pakistan authorities would brief the IMF delegation in details on tax revenues, reforms in energy sector and privatisation programme during the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2016