Claim: A statement circulating on social media asserts that Sri Lanka is borrowing a loan worth PKR 20 crore from Pakistan. The claim has been attributed to Pakistani actor Nabeel Zafar, who allegedly compared the situation to asking for salt from a household dealing with a funeral.
Fact: Sri Lanka is not borrowing money from Pakistan.
Starting 21 March 2025, several social media users shared a statement regarding Sri Lanka getting a loan from Pakistan, attributing it to actor Nabeel Zafar. In these posts, you can see the actor’s photograph being used with the following words:
“Sri Lanka Pakistan Se 20 Crore Dollar Ka Qarz Le Raha Hai Yeh to Fotgi Waale Ghar Se Namak Maangne Wali Baat Hai.”
[Translation: Sri Lanka is taking a $20 crore loan from Pakistan. This is as if you are asking for salt from a household dealing with a funeral.]
In some versions the post claims “PKR 20 crore” which is PKR 200 million, instead of “$20 crore”, which is $200 million. In one version, the post text on the photo claims $200 million and the caption claims $20 billion. This inconsistency further proves that this may not be an official announcement.
Background
Sri Lanka has been in the news over the past several years due to its severe debt crisis and economic challenges. Most international financial assistance to Sri Lanka has come from sources like China, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other multilateral institutions.
Trade agreements between Pakistan and Sri Lanka have evolved over the past two decades as an integral component of bilateral economic cooperation. According to official publications from the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA) was implemented on 12 June 2005, providing a framework for reducing tariffs on key products such as Pakistani Basmati rice and facilitating duty-free market access.
This agreement emerged within the broader context of regional integration efforts under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), endorsed at the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, which set a precedent for trade liberalization among South Asian nations.
On the Sri Lankan side, communications from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirm that the PSFTA has been periodically reviewed through bilateral working group meetings, with both governments demonstrating a shared commitment to expanding the scope of cooperation.
These reviews have paved the way for discussions on including services and investment chapters in the agreement, thereby aiming to further deepen economic ties and adapt to changing market dynamics. Together, these initiatives underscore a long-standing government-to-government collaboration aimed at reinforcing regional trade integration and promoting sustainable economic growth
In October 2024, the new government in Sri Lanka approved a controversial restructure of $14.7 billion in foreign commercial credit. Left-wing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake continued the deal his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe struck with the IMF.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check thoroughly searched through press releases and official notifications published by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce, but we did not find any announcements of a loan being given to Sri Lanka by the Pakistan government.
There is no verifiable evidence from any official Pakistani source or independent, reputable news organisation confirming that Pakistan has provided or is providing a loan of PKR 20 crore to Sri Lanka. The claim appears to be a misrepresentation or misinterpretation of financial figures and may have been amplified by social media users without proper context.
While Nabeel Zafar is a recognised public figure, his comments on social media should not be conflated with official government positions. In this case, his statement appears to be an offhand remark or personal opinion rather than a fact-based assertion supported by credible financial documentation.
In addition, Sri Lanka’s current external financing challenges are well documented, with the country primarily indebted to China, the IMF, and other multilateral agencies—not Pakistan. Major financial assistance to Sri Lanka has not involved Pakistan as a lender in recent years.
The June 2024 official debt summary showing the composition of Sri Lankan government’s external debt shows a 28% bilateral debt, out of which 17% is associated with the Non Paris Club (NPC). A further classification of external debt associated with shows an unpaid principal of $2.1 million from the Government of Pakistan. However, the same document also notes that 39 various loans were restructured with the Government of Pakistan.
Soch Fact Check also reached out to the Government of Pakistan’s Finance Division, where a member of the office confirmed under conditions of anonymity, that the statement regarding Sri Lanka pursuing new loans from Pakistan is false.
Virality
On Instagram, we found several posts sharing the claim. Some of those can be seen here, here, and here.
On Facebook, we found that the claim was widely shared, some of these posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
It was even shared on Threads here.
Conclusion: Based on our review, the claim that Sri Lanka is taking a PKR 20 crore loan from Pakistan is false. There is no credible evidence or official documentation to support this claim, and it appears to be a misleading statement circulating on social media. Nabeel Zafar’s comment does not reflect any formal policy or documented transaction between the governments of Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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Background image in cover photo: Pakistan Today
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