Aurangzeb says Pakistan has formally sought US support facility, response expected by end of Sept

Pakistan has formally asked the United States for an Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told reporters on Wednesday, according to Dawn. He said a reply from the US Treasury or US Exim Bank is anticipated by the close of September 2026, and that negotiations are ongoing. The $10 billion request, as reported, is intended mainly to show confidence in the rupee and external stability, not to function as a standard loan.

Officials framed the request as a way to bolster the rupee, shore up foreign exchange reserves and lessen dependence on frequent loan rollovers. Islamabad also wants to shift toward borrowing with repayment periods of five, seven and 10 years. Authorities are examining whether existing bilateral loans can be stretched to a maximum of 10 years.

Separately, the FBR unveiled a phone app tied to the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme, letting small traders and shopkeepers register and file returns digitally. Aurangzeb again pressed for an easier filing format for salaried workers, calling the existing one illogical.