Pakistan’s Stability Lies in Regional Trade, Not Foreign Loans, Says Syed Aman Shah

By: Aziz Khatri

  Karachi: Syed Aman Shah, Provincial Convener of Awam Pakistan Party (APP) Balochistan, voiced serious concerns over Pakistan’s ballooning foreign debt and continued dependence on IMF loans. He urged the government to adopt fiscal discipline, pursue sustainable economic reforms, and promote regional trade instead of relying on debt for temporary relief.

Commenting on the recent IMF staff-level agreement, Aman Shah said that borrowed money only manages economic figures without solving underlying problems like excessive non-development spending, governance issues, and corruption.

He emphasized that Pakistan’s real pathway to stability lies in better tax collection, cutting unnecessary government expenditures, and boosting regional trade, which currently accounts for just 6% of total trade despite Pakistan’s strategic location.

“A stronger partnership with China, Turkey, Iran, and Central Asian nations can help Pakistan stabilize through trade rather than loans,” Aman Shah added, highlighting the need for economic self-reliance and reduced IMF dependency.