RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Qatar will provide Pakistan $5 billion in financial assistance, enabling Islamabad to avert stress on the country’s weak foreign reserves while making external payments by June, sources told Anadolu Agency.
The development comes as Islamabad is set to repay a $3.5 billion debt to the UAE by the end of the month.
Riyadh has assured Islamabad of its financial support amid mounting external pressures and rising costs linked to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday night in Islamabad.
The meeting, attended by senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir, focused on economic cooperation and regional developments amid the ongoing rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
