{
  "id": 1926420,
  "title": "Pakistan seeks $10bn US Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility, Aurangzeb confirms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/pakistan-seeks-10bn-us-exchange-stabilisation-support-facility",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-19T11:25:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435571/pakistan-seeks-10bn-us-exchange-stabilisation-support-facility-aurangzeb-confirms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has officially requested a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility (ESF) from the United States, aiming to bolster foreign exchange stability and bolster Pakistan's standing in international capital markets. The ministry disclosed these details to Business Recorder, noting that the request is part of ongoing negotiations with the US, though no final decisions have been made. Aurangzeb also mentioned that Pakistan is exploring options to exit some existing financing arrangements and is seeking feedback on these plans by the end of September from entities such as Exim Bank or the US Treasury.\n\nThe government's strategy is to increasingly rely on market-based financing, moving away from frequent short-term bilateral rollovers. Aurangzeb emphasized that the $10 billion ESF is not meant to provide conventional loans or credits but rather serves as a market signal for Pakistan's currency and foreign exchange stability, potentially enabling access to international capital markets with longer-term maturities of five, seven, or even ten years. Currently, Pakistan is working on improving its sovereign credit rating, with the goal of reaching at least a B+ rating, a significant shift from its historical rating stuck since 2003-04. The finance minister highlighted that this strategy includes engaging with international credit rating agencies to facilitate Pakistan's transition to longer-term debt instruments.",
  "summary": "Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has confirmed that Pakistan has formally sought a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility from the United States, saying the initiative is aimed at strengthening foreign exchange stability and sending a positive signal to international capital markets rather than securing a conventional loan or credit line. Talking to Business Recorder the minister…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}