ISLAMABAD – Each Pakistani now owes Rs127,000 debt. The national debtstands at Rs26,452 billion or $190 billion as of November 2018, accordingto data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday.
This is 21% higher than what we owed to the world as well as local lendersa year ago.
The government is facing a double loss. On the international front, forevery dollar earned, we spend two, which leads to a trade deficit. On thelocal front, the government’s revenues are much lower than its expenses,leading to a budget deficit.
This double loss leaves the government with no money of its own to spend onessential imports that keep the economy afloat, and on development, such asbuilding schools, hospitals, roads and dams.
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To finance its budget deficit of Rs2.12 trillion and trade gap of $18.9billion, Pakistan has been relying on domestic and foreign loans.
As of November 2018, our foreign debt stands at Rs9,129 billion which is$65 billion while the domestic debt is Rs17,322 billion.
