Growth of external debt has ceased; the debt-to-GDP ratio has decreased to 26 percent.

Jameel Ahmad, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has disclosed that Pakistan’s external debt has remained unchanged since 2022, indicating a notable enhancement in the nation’s debt load.

The SBP Governor stated to the media that Pakistan’s debt-to-GDP ratio has decreased from 31% to 26%, indicating improved debt sustainability.

He observed that from 2015 to 2022, external debt increased by an average of $6.4 billion each year; however, this tendency has already reversed.

Notwithstanding a rise in imports, he stated that the current account is manageable, and for the current fiscal year, the deficit is anticipated to remain between 0% and 1% of GDP.
Jameel Ahmad further indicated that remittances are projected to exceed $40 billion this year, in contrast to the $38 billion received in the preceding fiscal year.

Concerning financial inclusion, he emphasized that the objective for women-centric financing from November 2024 to October 2025 is established at Rs50 billion, whereas SME financing has escalated from Rs550 billion to Rs700 billion.