Islamabad: Pakistan has requested the United States to provide a $10 billion Exchange Stabilization Support Facility, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s foreign exchange reserves, easing pressure on the Pakistani rupee, and reducing reliance on multilateral lenders, according to Reuters.
The reported request surfaced following a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, where the two sides discussed economic cooperation, foreign investment, and measures to improve Pakistan’s financial stability.
During the meeting, Aurangzeb also highlighted the economic impact of regional tensions on Pakistan and stressed the need for closer economic collaboration between the two countries.
Reuters Says Pakistan Has Requested Five-Year Financial Facility
According to Reuters, Pakistan has formally sought a five-year, $10 billion bilateral Exchange Stabilization Support Facility from the US Treasury. If approved, the facility could significantly boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, help stabilize the rupee, and strengthen investor confidence.
The report noted that this is the first time such a request has become public, marking a potentially significant development in Pakistan-US economic relations.
Reuters further reported that Islamabad believes its diplomatic engagement during the recent Iran-related regional tensions, including efforts to facilitate dialogue, has enhanced Pakistan’s strategic importance and could encourage greater economic cooperation from Washington and other international partners.
However, the report attributed these assessments to Reuters, and there has been no official confirmation from Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance that such a financing request has been formally submitted.
Similarly, the US Treasury Department declined to comment on the reported request.
Pakistan has been pursuing measures to strengthen its external financial position following recent economic challenges, including securing support from international financial institutions, attracting foreign investment, and improving foreign exchange reserves. Any bilateral exchange support arrangement with the United States would represent a significant development, although no such facility has been officially announced by either government.
