Total debt crosses Rs 81.4trn mark

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s total public debt surged past Rs 81.4 trillion, comprising both domestic and external components, with external debt exceeding Rs 21 trillion. Consequently, the per capita debt stands at approximately Rs 325,000.

This was stated by the Director of the Debt Office, the Ministry of Finance, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs held here under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro. He further informed that, based on the latest census, the per capita debt burden stands at approximately Rs. 325,000. The panel was told that the persistent rise in federal fiscal debt is primarily due to government expenditures exceeding revenues, with oil imports being a major contributing factor.

READ MORE: Govt debt stocks slump Rs345bn in 5 months

An important point highlighted during the briefing was that while the government regularly services domestic debt, it often does so by acquiring additional loans.

The chairman of the Senate body expressed serious concerns over the ever-growing national borrowing, adding that the government is not considering cuts in grants to parliamentarians, and urged the Finance Division to formulate policies that are financially beneficial for the nation. The chairman further sought details regarding a Rs 65 billion loan extended to banks by the State Bank of Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026