Pakistan’s federal government debt recorded a significant increase, rising 7.8 percent year-on-year in May 2026 and reaching Rs. 81.935 trillion, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.
On a monthly basis, the debt slightly increased from Rs. 81.930 trillion in April 2026, reflecting a 0.02 percent rise. However, compared to April 2025, the country’s debt burden has been increasing at an estimated rate of Rs. 188,000 per second, or approximately Rs. 16.23 billion per day.
The report highlights continued pressure on Pakistan’s fiscal position amid rising borrowing requirements and debt servicing needs.
Background: The steady increase in public debt reflects persistent fiscal deficits and higher reliance on domestic borrowing to meet government expenditure and financing requirements.
According to the data, Central Government Domestic Debt rose by 8.7 percent year-on-year to Rs. 58.107 trillion in May 2026. Within this, long-term public debt increased from Rs. 45.263 trillion to Rs. 47.297 trillion, while short-term debt rose from Rs. 8.133 trillion to Rs. 10.734 trillion over the same period.
The figures indicate a growing reliance on both short-term and long-term borrowing instruments, contributing to the overall rise in the national debt stock.
