Timeline — How many times has Moody’s rated Pakistan negative?

By
Business Desk
Signage is seen outside the Moodys Corporation headquarters in Manhattan, New York, US, November 12, 2021. — Reuters/File
Signage is seen outside the Moody's Corporation headquarters in Manhattan, New York, US, November 12, 2021. — Reuters/File

Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) downgraded the Government of Pakistan's local and foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa1 from B3 — after seven years.

The rating agency also downgraded the rating for the senior unsecured Medium Term Note (MTN) programme to (P)Caa1 from (P)B3 — and the outlook remains negative.

Moody's said the decision to downgrade the ratings to Caa1 is driven by increased government liquidity and external vulnerability risks and higher debt sustainability risks, in the aftermath of devastating floods that hit the country in June 2022.

Pakistan termed Moody’s decision of downgrading the country’s rating as “unilateral” and “not truly reflective” of the current macroeconomic conditions.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar warned Moody’s that he would give a “befitting” reply in a meeting with its officials next week if the agency did not reverse the downgrade of Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating.

As Moody's downgraded Pakistan, Geo.tv takes a look at the timeline of the agency's rating of the country.

Since 1994, the agency gave Pakistan a negatively rating most of the time. Out of a total of 27 ratings, Moody's gave Pakistan a positive rating only twice. Meanwhile, the rating remained stable 12 times.

The timeline

Date

Rating 

Outlook

June 2, 2022 
B3 
Negative
August 8, 2020
B3 
Stable
May 14, 2020 
B3 
Under review
December 2, 2019
B3 
Stable
June 20, 2018 
B3 
Negative
June 11, 2015 
B3 
Stable 
March 25, 2015 
Caa2 
Positive
July 14, 2014 
Caa2 
Stable
July 13, 2012 
Caa2 
Negative
August 17, 2009 
B3 
Stable
December 12, 2008 B3 
Negative
October 28, 2008 
B3 
Negative watch
September 23, 2008 
B3 
Negative
May 21, 2008 
B3 
Stable
November 5, 2007 
B2 
Negative
November 22, 2006 
B1 
Stable 
November 8, 2006 
B2 
Positive Watch
January 20, 2005 
B2 
Positive 
October 20, 2003 
B2 
Stable
February 13, 2002 
B3 
Stable 
October 29, 2001 
Caa1 
Stable 
October 23, 1998 
Caa1 
Negative
May 28, 1998 
B3 
Negative
November 6, 1996 
B2 
Negative
September 23, 1996 
B1 
Negative Watch
July 11, 1995 
B1 
Stable
November 23, 1994 
Ba3 
Stable