More debt, less development? Pakistan spends just 10% of annual budget

AI Summary

Pakistan spent 10.4% of its annual development budget in the first four months of the fiscal year, despite recording a first-quarter budget surplus. The article also cites a World Bank report showing external debt rose from $68.67 billion in 2015 to $135.1 billion in 2025, as public projects face delays.

Pakistan spent just 10.4% of its annual development budget in the first four months of the fiscal year, despite recording a 0.8% budget surplus in the first quarter. The slow spending comes as public projects face delays and the country's external debt nearly doubles to $135.1 billion in 2025 from $68.67 billion in 2015, according to a World Bank report cited by Dawn.