Punjab debt has been cleared as the provincial government repaid Rs 675 billion taken from local banks, freeing the province from debt for the first time in more than three decades.
Officials said the decision ends a daily interest outflow of Rs 25 crore that had been draining public resources.
The final installment of Rs 13.8 billion was paid to the National Bank of Pakistan, formally closing these long standing liabilities.
Punjab debt cleared to end rollovers and cut interest burden
According to the administration, most of these loans were tied to wheat procurement and related subsidies.
Over the years, repayments were often pushed ahead through rollovers. This created a cycle of debt and steady interest costs.
The government said all rollover requests were rejected this time to break that pattern.
The move signals a shift toward tighter financial management.
With interest savings, the province can redirect funds to health, education and development schemes.
It can also give breathing space to the budget at a time of price pressures and rising service demands.
Ending bank exposure on these lines may change how wheat operations are financed.
Officials will need to keep procurement disciplined and transparent to avoid rebuilding liabilities.
Clear rules on support prices, storage and timely releases will be important in the next crop cycle.
For businesses and banks, the cleanup reduces uncertainty. It also sets a benchmark for other departments to settle overdue obligations.
The government framed the step as a long term investment in stability.
By paying down the principal and closing the accounts, Punjab removes a recurring cost.
In addition, sends a message that public money will be used more carefully going forward.
