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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made “significant progress” toward a staff-level agreement on reviews of the South Asian country’s $8.4 loans, the lender said late Wednesday.

The statement came at the end of a two-week visit by an IMF mission, led by Iva Petrova, to Karachi and Islamabad to review a $7 billion, 37-month Extended Fund Facility Islamabad secured last year, and a $1.4 billion, 28-month Resilience and Sustainability Facility secured in May.

Pakistan’s program implementation remained strong and broadly aligned with the authorities’ commitments, while progress was made in discussions on fiscal consolidation to strengthen public finances while providing needed flood recovery support, according to the lender.

“Significant progress was made in the discussions in several areas, including sustaining fiscal consolidation to strengthen the public finances while providing needed flood recovery support,” the IMF said in a statement.

“Productive discussions were also held on the authorities’ reform agenda to strengthen climate resilience, including the completion of reform measures under the RSF.”

The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in New York and urged the global lender to take into account the recent flood damages in its upcoming review for the South Asian nation.

The floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains and India’s release of excess water, have killed more than 1,037 people and affected another over 4 million, besides damaging standing crops, homes and road network. The government has initially estimated the losses at Rs370 billion ($1.31 billion), though a detailed assessment has yet to be made.

This week, the World Bank projected Pakistan’s economy to grow by 2.6 percent in the ongoing fiscal year that began in July, lowering its earlier estimate due to the recent monsoon floods.

The IMF said its officials will continue policy discussions with Pakistani authorities with a view to settling any outstanding issues.

“The IMF team wants to express its sympathy to those affected by the recent floods, and is grateful to the Pakistani authorities, private sector, and development partners for many fruitful discussions,” it added.

COLOMBO: A superb century from Beth Mooney dragged defending champions Australia back from the brink of disaster before they completed a crushing 107-run win over Pakistan in a Women’s World Cup clash in Colombo on Wednesday.

The Aussies were staring down the barrel at 76-7 and then 115-8 after being asked to bat first with the Pakistan bowlers causing mayhem, left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu finishing with 3-37 from her 10 overs.

But a record ninth-wicket stand between Mooney, who was dismissed off the final ball of the innings for 109, and Alana King, who made 51 not out, turned the tide.

The pair dragged their side from the doldrums to a competitive 221-9 and that proved plenty as Pakistan’s brittle batting folded meekly for 114 all out in 36.3 overs.

Sidra Amin was the only Pakistan batter to put up a fight with 35 while opening bowler Kim Garth, who used to compete for Ireland, was the pick of the Australian attack with 3-14.

In the end it was a comfortable win for the Australians but it hadn’t looked like that a little earlier.

After a top order collapse that left the dugout stunned, Australia needed a savior and up stepped the ever reliable Mooney.

The left-hander produced her fifth ODI hundred while King played the perfect foil, matching grit with gumption in a 106-run partnership off 97 balls that breathed new life into the innings.

It was not just a rescue act, it was record breaking. The partnership eclipsed Australia’s previous best for the ninth wicket — 77 between Garth and Ashleigh Gardner — and also set a new Women’s World Cup benchmark, surpassing South Africa’s 66-run effort by Yulandi van der Merwe and Kim Price back in 2000.

Mooney’s innings was a masterclass in temperament, a classic backs-to-the-wall knock. She farmed the strike smartly, ran fast between the wickets and only unfurled the big shots toward the end.

“It was a pretty tricky situation. We wanted to get a partnership going and really had to grind to reach 221,” said Mooney.

“Alana King was incredible tonight. We’ve seen her do it before and it was nice to share that stand with her.”

Having rebuilt brick by brick, Mooney brought up her century with a nudge to mid-on off Fatima Sana, while King capped her maiden fifty in style, hoisting the Pakistan captain for six as Australia plundered 21 runs off the final over.

Mooney’s 109 off 114 deliveries, laced with 11 boundaries, ended when she holed out to cover off the final ball of the innings.

King remained unbeaten on 51 off 49, peppered with three fours and as many sixes, the highest score ever made by a number 10 or lower in women’s ODIs.

Pakistan never found their footing in reply, undone by Australia’s relentless discipline with the ball.

The seven-time world champions climbed back to the top of the points table, while Pakistan’s third straight defeat leaves their knockout hopes hanging by a thread.