“Debt bows the head, dignity pays the price”: Shehbaz Sharif admits Pakistan’s economic distress
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has openly acknowledged the country’s fragile economy and rising debt burden, admitting that seeking loans from the world not only forces a nation to bow its head but also comes at the cost of dignity. His remarks come at a time when Pakistan’s per capita debt has crossed ₹3.33 lakh, highlighting the severity of the ongoing economic crisis.
A video of the Prime Minister has gone viral on social media in which he is seen candidly stating that while asking for loans, he had to face humiliating situations on several occasions. Shehbaz Sharif said that to secure financial assistance for Pakistan, he was compelled to agree to several conditions that he did not accept from the heart.
In the video, the Prime Minister also explained the imbalance between lending and borrowing nations. He said that borrowers often have to accept terms imposed by lenders, even when they are unwilling to do so, simply due to compulsion. However, the exact date and location of the video have not been officially confirmed.
Speaking without hesitation, Shehbaz Sharif said that he and a field marshal visited multiple countries and informed them that Pakistan was under an IMF programme and required external financial support. “We told them to give us a few billion dollars. They did not refuse, but the borrower’s head is always bowed,” he said.
Pakistan has been struggling under a massive debt burden for years. By December 2025, the country’s total debt had risen to USD 52.366 billion. According to the fiscal policy presented in Parliament, the debt burden on each Pakistani citizen has increased by 13 percent to ₹3,33,000. In the financial year 2023–24, this figure stood at ₹2,94,098.
By admitting these realities publicly, the debt-ridden Prime Minister has acknowledged before the world that Pakistan is facing a deep economic crisis and that its dependence on loans continues to grow steadily.