ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s combined circular debt in the power and gas sectors has surged to Rs5.1 trillion, according to disclosures made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance. Officials informed the committee that the total circular debt has significantly increased from Rs3.5 trillion recorded last year, highlighting growing financial pressures on the […]
IMF programme
Petroleum levy collections surpass IMF loan amount
The federal government has collected more than Rs2.7 trillion in petroleum levy from citizens over the past two years, according to official documents, with the amount reportedly exceeding the combined value of Pakistan’s two ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programmes. Read More: IMF seeks higher petroleum levy target Documents revealed that from April 2024 to March 2026, […]
Debt servicing outpaces defence, development spending in H1 of CFY26
ISLAMABAD: Debt servicing in Pakistan continued to outstrip spending on defence and development during the first half of the current fiscal year (July–December CFY26), raising concerns over fiscal pressures under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, The News reported on Saturday. Read More: Pakistan hits milestone by repaying debt early According to data released by the Ministry […]
Textile exporters seek relief amid cost pressures
Textile exporters have urged the government to announce a comprehensive relief package, citing uncompetitive energy prices, high taxes and elevated financing costs that are undermining Pakistan’s ability to compete in global markets. Read More: Textile exports increase 0.90% to $9.16bn during Jul-Dec A large delegation of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) met Finance Minister […]
A practical path to ending Pakistan’s IMF dependence
Economists Nadeem ul Haque and Shahid Kardar argue that Pakistan’s repeated reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not the result of a lack of ideas, but of deep-rooted structural flaws in the country’s economic system that continue to generate balance-of-payments crises. Read More: Why Pakistan cannot depend on IMF support indefinitely In an opinion piece, the authors […]
Pakistan seeks IMF flexibility to support growth in next budget
The government is considering multiple options to seek relaxations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on key fiscal and macroeconomic targets ahead of the 2026–27 budget. The move is aimed at reviving economic activity and creating space for growth-oriented policies. Policymakers believe that strict conditions under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility have constrained growth by […]
Pakistan’s PPP contingent liabilities exceed Rs472 billion
Pakistan’s total contingent liabilities linked to public-private partnership (PPP) projects crossed Rs472 billion by the end of December 2025, with Sindh accounting for the largest share. The figures were disclosed by the Ministry of Finance in its first comprehensive fiscal risk framework for PPP projects. According to the Debt Management Office, total contingent liabilities stood […]
Rupee seen drifting, not crashing, in 2026
As Pakistan heads into 2026, the outlook for the rupee appears markedly different from past years marked by sudden devaluations and currency crises. Analysts note that while risks remain, the policy framework governing the foreign exchange market has shifted in ways that reduce the likelihood of disorderly shocks. Read More: The 250-Rupee Truth Historically, Pakistan’s major […]
Why Pakistan cannot depend on IMF support indefinitely
Pakistan repeated reliance on the International Monetary Fund has reignited debate over the country’s long-term economic direction, with analysts warning that stabilisation programmes alone cannot deliver sustainable growth. While IMF support has helped avert financial crises, critics argue that continued dependence reflects deeper structural and policy failures. Economists note that IMF programmes are designed to […]
Federal development spending remains slow in first five months
Development spending under the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) remained weak during the first five months of the current fiscal year, with utilisation reaching only 9.2 per cent of the annual allocation. The slowdown reflects fiscal rationing as the government works to meet contingency measures agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Read More: […]