Pakistan’s national debt surged by more than 27 trillion rupees in the two years following the end of Imran Khan’s administration.
Initially recorded at 44 trillion rupees at the close of Khan’s term in April 2022, the debt has escalated to over 71 trillion rupees under successive administrations, including the PDM, caretaker, and the current PML-N government.
The Ministry of Finance presented a breakdown of this increase in the National Assembly, indicating that as of June this year, the total national debt had reached 71 trillion rupees.
The total debt comprises more than 47 trillion rupees in domestic debt and over 24 trillion in foreign debt. Notably, domestic debt, which represents 66% of the total, is financed through government securities and loans from external lenders, development partners, and commercial institutions.
Read: IMF Excludes Pakistan Loan Approval from August Executive Board Agenda
The government has outlined a repayment schedule from 2024 to 2040, reflecting the significant financial commitments ahead. In 2024 alone, Pakistan is slated to repay 18.7 trillion rupees. Subsequent years will also see considerable repayments: 8.7 trillion rupees in 2025, 7.6 trillion in 2026, and 4.3 trillion rupees in 2027. Payments continue with 6 trillion rupees due in 2028 and 8.4 trillion rupees in 2029. The schedule extends with lower repayments projected for the early 2030s.
