Pakistan secures US$6b aid package from Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Saudi Arabia agreed to a US$6 billion (RM25 billion) support package to bolster Islamabad’s dwindling finances following a second visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan to Riyadh seeking aid.

Saudi Arabia will deposit US$3 billion directly with Pakistan “as balance of payment support” while another one-year deferred payment facility of up to US$3 billion for oil imports was agreed, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the finance ministers of both nations on Tuesday.

“This arrangement will be in place for three years, which will be reviewed thereafter,” Pakistan’s Finance Ministry said in a statement.

Despite his government announcing earlier this month it will seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Imran has again recently voiced his reluctance to turn to the fund for Pakistan’s 13th bailout.

Pakistan is facing its latest balance-of-payments crisis as imports for Chinese-financed infrastructure projects rise while its exports lag the region.

Since coming to power in July elections, the former national cricket captain has been seeking financial support from friendly countries including China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with little success until now.

Finance Minister Asad Umar has said Pakistan may need more than US$12 billion to plug its finances as the current account deficit widens and foreign-currency reserves plummet.

Authorities have already devalued the rupee multiple times since December and hiked interest rates the most in Asia. Reserves have plunged more than 40 per cent this year to US$8.1 billion.