External Debt Sustainability Analysis for the Medium Term: A Case Study

This paper estimates Pakistan’s’ external debt by using Debt Sustainability Assessment (DSA) methodology developed by IMF and World Bank [IDA and IMF (2004, 2007), IMF (2005) and World Bank (2005)]. The main findings of the paper are that in response to small individual shocks to main components of external debt evolution i.e., real GDP growth, non-interest current account balance to GDP ratio and the ratio of net non-debt creating capital inflows to GDP, country’s external debt to GDP ratio will although increase, but would remain within safe limits. Secondly a very large depreciation of the exchange rate has the potential of causing the debt to GDP ratio to breach the debt threshold level indentified for Pakistan. Finally, a large combined shock to real GDP growth, non-interest current account balance to GDP ratio and the ratio of net non-debt creating capital inflows to GDP can also result in a need of another debt rescheduling for the country.