Pakistan was "well positioned" for the first review of its $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout programme, the finance minister told Reuters, as talks with the global lender began on Tuesday.

Pakistan is likely to pass the first review of its $7 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund since it has made enough progress to raise revenue, according to officials and diplomats familiar with the matter.

Pakistan was "well positioned" for the first review of its $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout programme as talks with the global lender began on Tuesday, the country's finance minister told Reuters.