ISLAMABAD: Pakistan total public (domestic and foreign both) debt hasreached the unprecedented levels in the history of Pakistan.

Public debt has grown by almost 60 per cent to Rs22.8 trillion fromRs14.3tr in four and a half years of the current government’s tenure toDecember 2017, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2017-18 releasedon Thursday.

In spite of this hefty increase in stock, the total public debt remains66.3pc of GDP (gross domestic product) compared with 64pc of GDP in 2013because 53.7pc growth in the size of the economy.

The numbers shared by the government show that gross domestic debt rose byover 62pc from Rs9.5tr to Rs15.4tr and external debt by almost 53pc fromRs4.8tr to Rs7.4tr.

The survey however contends that the government debt remains 60.7pc of GDPor Rs20.8tr, slightly up from 60.2pc or Rs13.5 billion in 2013.