In this episode, Uzair talks Khurram Husain about the recent agreement between Pakistan and the IMF, which has secured a 3-year $7 billion programme. We talked about what comes next for the economy and why the hard work is only just beginning.

In addition, we focused on Pakistan’s debt sustainability, with Khurram sharing his perspective on why restructuring debt is perhaps not the right path for the country at this point in time.

The articles we referred to in our conversation are linked below:

- https://www.dawn.com/news/1859741/shaky-stability

- https://www.dawn.com/news/1861209/and-audits-for-all

- https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2024/08/28/break-the-taboos-propping-up-unsustainable-debt-pleads-a-former-central-banker

- https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/pakistan-needs-public-debt-restructuring-by-sanjay-kathuria-1-2024-09

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:45 Debt restructuring for Pakistan

13:16 IMF agreement and its implications

22:55 Petrol prices and relief

29:10 Politics and the current status quo

36:25 Conclusion