Punjab Sees Decline in External Debt, While Other Provinces Record Increase: Finance Ministry Data
In the first half of the current fiscal year (July–December 2025), external debt trends across Pakistan showed a mixed pattern, with Punjab recording a decline while the remaining provinces experienced an increase, according to data released by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The official document shows that external debt of Punjab decreased by $31 million during the period.
In contrast, external debt increased in other provinces. Sindh saw an increase of $494 million, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a rise of $93 million. Balochistan also reported an increase of $4 million.
Among other regions, external debt in Azad Jammu and Kashmir declined by $4 million, while Gilgit-Baltistan saw a reduction of $1 million.
The report further noted that, in terms of overall volume, Punjab remained the largest holder of external debt among all provinces.
