Have got ‘big’ aid from China, won’t reveal amount, says Pak PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said the country has received a “big” aid package from its ally China but will not reveal the exact the amount as President Xi Jinping does not want him to do so.

Khan said this during an interaction with journalists at the PM House, Geo News reported. He made his maiden visit to Beijing earlier this month and met Xi and Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders and sought aid to overcome the financial woes faced by his cash-strapped government.

The Pakistani government is facing serious economic challenges.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia had announced a USD 6 billion aid package to Pakistan.

After his talks with Khan on November 3, Premier Li had said China will provide the “necessary support” to Pakistan to tide over the present financial crisis. Speaking about his recent trip to China, Khan said, “Concrete results of my visit are beginning to show. We are receiving all forms of aid from China and we are satisfied.” “No other previous premiers’ tours to China were as successful as mine,” he claimed. Khan, whose government is currently negotiating a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), appeared confident that Pakistan’s economy will tide over the difficulties by next year.

Commenting on the ongoing money laundering probe and the foreign assets owned by Pakistanis, Imran said, “We have traced USD 15 billion that was sent to Dubai from Pakistan.” “Work is under way to bring back looted wealth,” he added. “We have also signed agreements with Britain and Switzerland,” he said. PTI