Foreign debt soars to $126 billion, NA told

Pakistan’s foreign debt rose to $126 billion, including $85.64 billion government's foreign debt, $7.29 billion owed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and $11.58 billion foreign debt owed by the private sector, the National Assembly was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply during the question hour, the lawmakers were informed that the country would have to pay $95.4 billion in interest and principal amount payments from 2022 to 2059. Details of the pay and perks of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor were also presented in the National Assembly.

According to the reply, the SBP governor draws Rs2.5 million salary with 10% increment per annum, besides the allocation of a fully furnished house, two vehicles with 1,200 liters of petrol and a driver and four domestic servants.

Besides, the house was informed, the bank also paid for electricity, gas, water bills and generator fuel, landline, mobile phone and internet. The central bank also paid 75% of children's school fees, the reply added.