Egypt is compiling a wide-ranging survey to gauge the impact of dramatic economic reforms on the Middle East’s largest population and work with the International Monetary Fund on how to shield the most vulnerable,

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that the size of Egypt's $8 billion loan programme is "still appropriate", and that it will assess as a priority how effective the country's social protection programmes are.

The head of the International Monetary Fund will visit Egypt soon, after the country’s government said that regional conflicts were making it harder to meet targets and timetables on an $8 billion loan program with the Washington-based lender.

International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday urged Egypt to continue undertaking its reforms as Cairo said it is considering re-evaluating the targets set by its bailout programme.