Pakistan’s external debt rises by Rs1.24 trillio…
Pakistan’s external debt has started rising again after recording a decline during the first nine months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, with official data showing a sharp increase during the final quarter.
According to government documents, the country’s external debt increased by more than Rs1.24 trillion between March and June 2026. During the same three-month period, the government’s total debt rose by around Rs3.11 trillion, reflecting a significant increase in both external and domestic borrowing.
The data shows that the government’s domestic debt increased by more than Rs1.87 trillion from March to June 2026. As a result, total domestic debt reached approximately Rs59.44 trillion by June 2026.
Pakistan’s total external debt stood at around Rs22.96 trillion in March 2026. By the end of June, the figure had climbed to approximately Rs24.20 trillion, marking an increase of more than Rs1.24 trillion in just three months.
The latest increase reverses the downward trend recorded earlier in the fiscal year. Pakistan reduced its external debt by around Rs207 billion during the first three months of 2026. From June 2025 to March 2026, the country’s external debt declined by approximately Rs458 billion.
The largest increase during the latest quarter came from long-term external borrowing. Government figures show that long-term external debt stood at around **Rs19.72 trillion in March 2026**, but increased to approximately **Rs21.77 trillion by June**, representing an increase of more than Rs2 trillion.
In contrast, short-term external debt declined significantly during the same period. It fell by around Rs506 billion over the three months, partially offsetting the increase in long-term borrowing.
The figures indicate that while Pakistan had made progress in reducing its external debt earlier in the fiscal year, borrowing picked up considerably during the final quarter. The sharp rise in long-term external liabilities remains a key factor behind the overall increase in the country’s external debt.