The government will not seek debt restructuring from Paris Club creditor nations, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday.
Dismissing market rumours that the government might extend maturities for its bonds, Dar told a news conference in Islamabad that “we will fulfil all multilateral, international and bond obligations.”
Moody’s last week downgraded Pakistan’s credit rating from B3 into so-called junk territory at Caa1, citing external risks and concerns about the country’s ability to secure required financing to meet its needs in the next few years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month made an appeal to the Paris Club for a debt moratorium after the country’s already struggling economy was hit by devastating floods that his government estimates will cause economic losses up to $30 billion.
“We have decided not to go to Paris Club,” Dar said, adding that in consultation with PM Shehbaz it was decided that it wasn’t in the nation’s interest to ask for a restructuring.
