KATHMANDU, Feb. 19 -- Nepal's public debt has crossed Rs 2.611 trillion as of mid-February this year.

According to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), the amount of borrowings increased Rs 140.37 in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. During the review period, the government received additional borrowings of Rs 290.57 billion, while it paid back Rs 150.20 billion out of its loan liabilities.

The increased debt burden resulted from the soaring budget deficit of the government. In the review period, the state treasury witnessed a negative balance of Rs 97.82 billion, according to the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO).

With the new development, the ratio of public debt to the country's gross domestic produc...