Pakistan seeks $10 billion U.S. economic support facility
Pakistan has requested a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility from the U.S. to bolster its economy and regain access to international capital markets. The request is part of a broader strategy to manage fiscal deficits and inflation under IMF guidelines.
Why it matters
This request underscores Pakistan's ongoing economic fragility and its reliance on U.S. and international financial support to avoid default.
Pakistan ’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has asked U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to provide Islamabad with a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility to help strengthen its economy, according to a media report.
Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility, often routed through the U.S. Treasury's Exchange Stabilisation Fund, is a financial backstop mechanism that includes currency swaps, financial guarantees and loans, among other measures.
The Dawn newspaper reported on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) that it received confirmation on the information about Pakistan's request from its embassy in Washington. The mission, however, did not share further details with the newspaper. Dawn also sought a response from the U.S. Treasury, but did not get any.
An official readout issued by the embassy noted that Aurangzeb had sought U.S. support for Pakistan’s road-to-market strategy, based on improved access to international capital markets, higher foreign exchange reserves, and enhanced sovereign credit ratings.
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