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World Bank, Asian Development Bank delay $1 billion loans to Pakistan: Reports

World Bank, Asian Development Bank delay $1 billion loans to Pakistan: Reports

A trader counts Pakistani rupee notes at a currency exchange booth in Peshawar, Pakistan

According to Pakistani media sources, two of Pakistan's main lenders, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), have withheld approval of another $1 billion (7,300 crore rupees) worth of loans due to a failure to fulfil certain conditions.

On June 28, the World Bank is expected to approve $800 million (Rs 5,800 crore) in policy loans, down from the initial plan of $1.5 billion.

According to a government source, the World Bank opted to cut the loan short after Pakistan failed to meet some of the terms.

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Similarly, the ADB has postponed clearance of the second tranche of the $300 million loans for the energy sector.

Pakistan and the World Bank have previously agreed to three loans totalling $500 million.

According to Tribune sources, the World Bank has delayed approval of one loan and cut the sum of the other two loans from $500 million to $400 million apiece.

Pakistan has already entered the "danger zone" of governmental debt, with total liabilities and debts of $294 billion, or 109 per cent of GDP as of December 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)