Home »Business and Economy » Pakistan » Debt stocks hit record Rs 26.4 trillion mark
The country's total debt (domestic and external) stocks continue to increase reaching all-time high of Rs 26.4 trillion at the end of November 2018 owing to rising fiscal imbalance. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Monday revealed that the federal government's total debt stocks recorded an increase of 9.25 percent during first four months (July-Nov) of this fiscal year (FY19), mainly due to higher fiscal deficit followed by slow revenue collection.

With current increase, the central government's total debt stocks (domestic and external) surged to all-time high of Rs 26.453 trillion at the end of November 2018 compared to Rs 24.212 trillion on June 30, 2018, depicting an increase of Rs 2.24 trillion. This increase in the overall debt has originated from the rise in domestic as well as external debt.

During the period under review, domestic debt increased by 21 percent, while external debt stocks rose by 17 percent. The total domestic debt stocks comprise permanent debt, unfunded debt, floating debt and market loans. However, central government's external debt excludes the IMF loans to Central Bank for balance of payment support, foreign exchange liabilities and includes the IMF loan for budgetary support.

The federal government's domestic debt rose to Rs 17.323 trillion in November 2018 against Rs 16.416 trillion in June 2018, showing an increase of Rs 9.6 billion in first four months of this fiscal year.

Domestic debt comprises Rs 4.386 trillion of permanent debt, Rs 2.874 trillion of unfunded debt and Rs 10 trillion of floating debt.

Similarly, the government's external debt went up by Rs 1.334 trillion to Rs 9.13 trillion in November 2018 up from Rs 7.796 trillion in June 2018. External debt includes long-term loans amounting to Rs 9.039 trillion and short-term loans worth Rs 90.6 billion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019


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