China’s SAFE provides $2 billion deposit loan to shore up Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves in March 2021 (Linked to Project ID#92087, 73343)

On March 23, 2018, the People's Bank of China signed an agreement with the State Bank of Pakistan to provide a $2 billion loan — via China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) — to shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves (as captured via Project ID#73343). The loan carried the following borrowing terms: a 1-year maturity, a 1-year grace period, and an interest rate of 12-month LIBOR plus a 1% margin. The loan fully disbursed. Then, on March 23, 2019, the $2 billion SAFE deposit loan from 2018 was repaid and reissued (i.e. 'rolled over') with a maturity date of March 23, 2020 (as captured via Project ID#92087). One year later, on March 23, 2020, the $2 billion SAFE deposit loan from 2019 was repaid and reissued (i.e. 'rolled over') with a maturity date of March 23, 2021. Then, on March 23, 2021, the $2 billion SAFE deposit loan from 2020 was repaid and reissued (i.e. 'rolled over) with a maturity date of March 23, 2022. Then, on March 23, 2022, the $2 billion SAFE deposit loan from 2021 was repaid and reissued (i.e. 'rolled over'') with a maturity date of March 23, 2023. Then, on March 23, 2023, the $2 billion SAFE deposit loan from 2022 was repaid and reissued (i.e. 'rolled over') with a maturity date of March 23, 2024.

Additional details

1. AidData has estimated the all-in interest rate by adding 1% to average 12-month LIBOR in March 2021 (0.280%). 2. Until 2018, all SAFE loans were managed by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). However, during the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the loans were reclassified and are now under the aegis of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD).

Number of official sources

4

Number of total sources

12