In addition to endorsing tax cuts, the IMF has publicly criticized Pakistan's decision to allocate 2,000MW of electricity for cryptocurrency mining without proper consultation with the Energy Ministry and NEPRA. This stance underscores the importance of regulatory oversight in energy allocation.

The IMF has given preliminary approval to reduce income tax rates for salaried individuals in Pakistan's upcoming 2025-26 federal budget, providing relief estimated at up to Rs. 60 billion. The move followed intense negotiations with the Federal Board of Revenue and is aimed at easing the tax burden on lower and middle-income workers.

The IMF announced a preliminary $20 billion bailout agreement with Argentina, supporting President Milei’s austerity-driven reform agenda amid mounting economic stress and structural changes that risk undermining worker protections.

In April, the IMF revised its forecast for India’s 2025 GDP growth downward to 6.2% in response to heightened trade tensions and global economic uncertainty linked to Trump’s tariff policies, while noting the relative stability of the Indian economy.

A Human Rights Watch report highlights that IMF programs impose austerity measures—including cuts to public wages, removal of subsidies, and increased regressive taxes—that undermine the ability of governments in countries like Pakistan to uphold human rights and protect vulnerable populations.

A Human Rights Watch report criticizes 38 IMF loan programs (2020-2023) for enforcing austerity measures that lead to deep cuts in public spending, adversely affecting social and economic rights, particularly of vulnerable populations.

A new Human Rights Watch report accuses the IMF of imposing harsh austerity measures and flawed conditionalities on loans during the Covid-19 pandemic, which have compounded inequality and undermined economic, social, and cultural rights in affected countries.

A Human Rights Watch report criticizes the IMF for imposing loan conditions that enforce austerity measures, which reduce public spending on essential services and undermine economic, social, and cultural rights. The report highlights how these conditions exacerbate inequality and adversely affect workers and vulnerable communities across several countries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply criticized the IMF for its pandemic-era policies which, according to him, favored wealthy nations over developing countries. He highlighted how, during COVID-19, rich nations received disproportionately larger loans, while the Global South struggled with inadequate support, and called for sweeping reforms in IMF quotas and lending practices.

On April 5, 2023, an article called for urgent reform of the IMF’s governance structure and policies. It criticized the outdated quota system, excessive surcharges, and the undue influence of powerful Western nations, arguing that these practices undermine democratic participation and exacerbate human rights violations in vulnerable countries.

Stephanie Segal testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy, detailing the IMF's evolving role in addressing climate change, sovereign debt challenges, and growing inequality through enhanced surveillance, lending practices, and capacity development initiatives.

The article outlines longstanding criticisms of the IMF for imposing severe loan conditions, including austerity measures, structural adjustments, and deregulation that have exacerbated economic crises, reduced public services, and undermined democratic decision‐making. It also notes the IMF’s lack of transparency and instances of support for regimes with poor human rights records, including military dictatorships.