New Delhi, May 9 -- Pakistan has denied as "fake" a request made by its Ministry of Economic Affairs to global partners for more loans, citing economic losses and a stock market crash. The appeal, posted from a now-deleted and allegedly hacked X account, also called for international help to de-escalate tensions with India. Despite this denial, Pakistan faces a real financial crisis, with over $100 billion in external debt, low foreign reserves, and reliance on IMF support.

2. Its interest payments are now taking up nearly two-thirds of public revenue, leaving limited funds available for essential government services. The living standard has become better, but far more gradually than in the rest of South Asia.

3. Pakistan experienced an...