Karachi, June 14: Moody's Investors Service has warned that Pakistan is at an increased risk of failing to restart its $6.7 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), putting the country closer to a sovereign default, local media reported.

"There are increasing risks that Pakistan may be unable to complete the IMF programme that expires at the end of June," a sovereign analyst with the rating company in Singapore Grace Lim said. Lim said: "Without an IMF programme, Pakistan could default, given its very weak reserves." Indian Banks Safe Amidst Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank Failures: Moody’s.

Pakistan is making a final effort to revive its IMF programme, with a finalcing gap of $2 billion and exchange-rate policy among the biggest hurdles. While the government has pledged to meet billions of debt obligations, investors have remained sceptical about the nation's dollar bonds trading in the distressed territory since last year, Geo News reported.

Pakistan faces about $23 billion of external debt payments for the fiscal year 2023-24, which begins in July. The amount is roughly five times its reserves and most of it is taken from concessional multilateral and bilateral sources. Rs 2000 Notes Withdrawal: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar Says It Is an Act of a Moody Person.

On Monday, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad denied officials were seeking debt restructuring talks as the country will pay $900 million of sovereign debt in June and expects $2.3 billion of obligations to be rolled over, Geo News reported.

The country's $1 billion bond due in April next year was little changed at about 55.6 cents on the dollar in Asian trading on Wednesday, after sliding almost three cents in the previous two days.

The rupee, which is trading near a record low against the dollar, may face further downward pressure, Lim said in an emailed response to questions. The IMF's comments on the exchange rate likely referred to the gap in the interbank and retail markets, she said.

The local currency has lost more than 20 per cent this year after officials devalued the currency in January, making it one of the worst performers globally, Geo News reported.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2023 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).