KATHMANDU: Nepal’s outstanding public debt has climbed to Rs 2.97 trillion, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).
By the end of Bhadra, the government’s total debt liability had exceeded 45 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Of the total debt, Rs 1.36 trillion is domestic debt, while external debt stands at Rs 1.61 trillion. Domestic and external borrowings account for 20.63 percent and 24.41 percent of GDP, respectively.
The government has set a target of mobilizing Rs 658.28 billion in public debt during the current fiscal year. By the end of Bhadra, it had raised Rs 61.05 billion, equivalent to 9.28 percent of the annual target. The amount comprises Rs 50 billion in domestic borrowing and Rs 11.05 billion in external loans.
The government has allocated Rs 417.88 billion in the current budget for debt servicing, covering both principal and interest payments. By the end of Bhadra, Rs 85.01 billion had been spent on debt servicing, representing 20.34 percent of the allocated amount. Debt servicing during the period amounted to 1.29 percent of GDP, according to the PDMO.
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