Running on rollovers: Pakistan's reserves get $27 billion foreign loans from Saudi, China

Pakistan secured approximately $27 billion in foreign funding in the last fiscal year, with $16 billion from fresh borrowing and the rest from rollovers, grants, and commercial financing.

Saudi Arabia rolled over $5 billion in deposits and provided a fresh $3 billion deposit, totaling $8 billion in cash deposits with Pakistan's central bank at 4% to 4.5% interest.

China extended rollover support of $4 billion in cash deposits at an interest rate of over 6%.

The bulk of foreign assistance ($24 billion) was used for budget financing, external debt repayment, and strengthening foreign exchange reserves; only $3.4 billion went to project financing.

Pakistan's exports declined by 6% in the last fiscal year compared to the previous year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.