ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday signed two Debt Service Suspension Agreements (DSSAs) with Japan and Switzerland for suspension of $197.5 million loans, under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) framework allowed to the poor nations as relief to absorb Covid-19 shock.

       Of this total amount, $191.60m was owed to Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) during the period from January to June 2021 and $5.89 million to the Government of the Swiss Confederation during the period from July to December 2021.

       These amounts will now be repaid over a period of six years (including one-year grace period) in semi-annual installments.

       The total amount of debt that has been suspended and rescheduled under the DSSI framework, covering the period from May 2020 to December 2021 stands at $3.688bn.

       Published in Dawn,June 16th, 2022