Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing the nation after returning from Saudi Arabia Wednesday stated that the $6 billion bailout package that the Saudi leadership had given was ‘a big relief’ for Pakistan, Dawn online reported. He also vowed to act as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Yemen to end the ongoing conflict.
Khan said he also expected Saudi Arabia-like monetary assistance from two other friendly countries after which the government might not need to seek as big a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as had been planned earlier.
He accused the previous two governments of plunging the country into its worst financial crisis, and said the opposition parties’ recent plan to form an alliance was aimed at pressing the government to get some relief under a deal like the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) that was bestowed upon them by retired General Pervez Musharraf.
“Keep in your mind that unlike Pervez Musharraf, I will not come under any pressure and will not give any NRO to the corrupt,” Khan warned the opposition parties.
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He expressed his gratitude to Saudi leadership for helping Pakistan at a time of need, and said: “We could go into default but the ‘tremendous’ financial package from Saudi Arabia has relieved our burden.”
He said Pakistan had been mulling over decision to get a loan from the IMF, but any major assistance from the lender would have put additional burden on the nation.
“Now the government won’t need much from the IMF,” he added.
Reports came in that Khan also discussed with the Saudi leaders the conflict in neighbouring Yemen, as he announced that Pakistan would play the role of a mediator in the war. “One more important thing I want to share with you that I will make all-out efforts to get resolved Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict by acting as a mediator. We will also try our best to play a mediatory role in bringing all the Muslim nations together,” he added.
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About the financial assistance, Khan said he was receiving encouraging response from friends of Pakistan and believed that two of the countries would give similar financial help as Saudi Arabia has pledged. “We are expecting similar package from friends, as we want to put minimum burden on the salaried class,” he said.
While tracing the history of foreign debts, Khan said the country’s total foreign debt before 1970 stood at Rs 30 billion. It swelled to Rs 6,000 billion in next 40 years, he said, adding that it surged to Rs 30,000 billion only in the last decade.
Besides, he said the circular debt had gone up to Rs 1,200 billion, which was only Rs 230 billion in 2009.
“We are going to conduct audit of Rs 30,000 billion foreign loans obtained by the former rulers. For this reason they are joining hands to make a front against the government in a bid to save their skin,” Khan said.
