NA panel to summon finance secretary, SBP governor over unresolved Rs342.9 billion TCP dues

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce has decided to summon the Finance Secretary and the State Bank of Pakistan Governor over Rs342.947 billion that remains unpaid to the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). According to Business Recorder, Rs265.719 billion of that amount is accumulated bank markup. The step followed a request from Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul and TCP Chairman Rafeo Bashir Shah for the committee to intervene in the long-running dispute.

Official figures as of July 31, 2026 show that the Utility Stores Corporation owes the largest share, Rs121.138 billion, mostly markup. The National Fertiliser Marketing Limited follows with Rs76.331 billion, while Punjab's Food Department owes Rs47.601 billion. Other debtors include provincial food departments, the Ministry of Industries and Production over sugar accounts, PASSCO and several smaller government bodies.

TCP's chairman told members the organisation was actively reconciling accounts, yet it says repeated requests have produced little progress. A draft summary sent to the Ministry of Commerce on November 21, 2023 proposed settling the dues through federal budget funds or a mechanism like the 2011 Pakistan Investment Bonds issuance. The State Bank reportedly said its concern lay with receivables owed by government bodies, and it considers the matter closed from a banking perspective. The committee is expected to ask the Governor why the central bank has not helped reduce the markup or freeze it at current levels.