Pakistan’s total public debt has crossed Rs81 trillion, placing a heavy burden on every citizen. According to the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, each Pakistani now carries an average debt of about Rs325,000.
Of this huge amount, external debt stands at over Rs26 trillion while domestic borrowings exceed Rs55 trillion. Officials told the committee that the main reasons for the rise are the country’s large fiscal deficit and the weakening of the Pakistani rupee. The government keeps borrowing to cover the gap between spending and income.
Lawmakers expressed serious concern during the meeting. They warned that this growing debt threatens Pakistan’s financial stability. One key issue raised was the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s Rs300 billion loan. The money remains unutilized, yet interest payments continue to add to the burden.
Committee members said the responsibility for fixing the economy should not fall only on parliament. They called for better control over spending and smarter use of borrowed funds. Rising debt also increases interest costs, leaving less money for health, education, and development.
Experts fear that without strong reforms, the debt will keep growing and affect future generations. The government needs to cut unnecessary expenses, improve tax collection, and use loans only for productive projects to ease this uncontrolled burden.
