ISLAMABAD: Pakistan received a total of $5.17 billion from external sources during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, from July to January, according to official data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Documents released by the ministry detail the inflow of funds, breaking them down into budget support and project-specific financing. During the July-January period, the government secured $1.84 billion in the form of budget support. Simultaneously, $1.90 billion was received for various development projects across the country.
The documents highlight that Saudi Arabia emerged as the largest lender to Pakistan during this period, providing a total of $700 million. This includes financing in the form of deferred payment for oil imports.
Following Saudi Arabia, the World Bank was the second largest contributor, disbursing $850 million in loans. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided $630 million, while the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) extended $530 million in financing.
The breakdown of lending also shows that China provided a loan of $540 million to Pakistan. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) contributed $200 million as part of its ongoing engagement. Furthermore, Standard Chartered Bank extended a loan facility amounting to $140 million during the seven-month period.
In a further boost to the country’s foreign exchange reserves, the ministry’s details revealed that Pakistan received $622.7 million in external financing during the month of January alone.
