According to the report, Fakhray Alam Irfan, the Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Power, revealed that the IMF approved only a three-month relief period, down from the proposed six months, citing risks of market distortion and pressure on the country’s already strained energy sector.
The partial rejection reflects the IMF’s broader skepticism toward national-level crypto adoption. Similar warnings have been issued to other countries, including El Salvador, where the IMF has cautioned against direct government involvement in Bitcoin mining and accumulation.
Despite the IMF’s reservations, Pakistan appears to be doubling down on its crypto push.
The authorities have signaled a broader commitment to digital assets, framing Bitcoin as a sovereign-grade financial tool that could help strengthen financial decentralization and innovation in the Global South.
In a related development, World Liberty Financial, the DeFi project with ties to US President Donald Trump and his family, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistani Crypto Council (PCC) in late June.