Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan arrives in Abu Dhabi on first foreign tour
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Abu Dhabi last night on his maiden foreign tour since coming to power, as Islamabad seeks to stave off a financial crisis.
He was received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, upon arrival in the UAE capital.
The two held discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern as well as enhancing ties between the two countries.
Saudi King Salman had also hosted Mr Khan earlier yesterday, state media said, before he travelled to the UAE.
He performed the Umrah pilgrimage after touching down in Saudi Arabia for his first state visit since taking office in August.
Mr Khan and his delegation prayed inside the Kabaa and a large number of Pakistan nationals living in the country congregated outside the holy site in Makkah to see the new prime minister.
Mr Khan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih as he concluded his two-day visit, the Saudi Press Agency said, amid speculation that he would seek economic assistance from the oil-rich ally.
“Anyone who comes to power in Pakistan will visit Saudi Arabia first,” Mr Khan told Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television during his visit to the western city of Jeddah. “Saudi Arabia has in the past helped Pakistan when Pakistan has been in need,” he said.
When Mr Khan took his oath of office as Pakistan’s new leader last month, Sheikh Mohamed phoned to congratulate him.
Islamabad and Abu Dhabi maintain close ties and there are more than one million Pakistanis living and working in the UAE, which represent the second-largest national group in the country.
He arrived on the same day that Pakistan crumbled to 162 all out in their Asia Cup one-day cricket match against arch rivals India in Dubai. India ultimately cruised to victory in their innings.
A former cricket great, Mr Khan, who has pursued a career in politics since his retirement from the game, faces challenges at home including a faltering economy, militant extremism, water shortages and a rapidly growing population.
The most pressing is a looming balance-of-payments crisis, with analysts predicting Pakistan will have to go to the International Monetary Fund for a new bailout.
The IMF has bailed Pakistan out repeatedly since the late 1980s. The last time was in 2013, when Islamabad got a $6.6 billion (Dh24.23bn) loan to tackle a similar crisis.
The media in Pakistan has speculated that Mr Khan is eyeing Saudi Arabia and China to provide loans to rescue
Islamabad from the crisis and halt the need to approach the IMF again.
Mr Khan was accompanied to Jeddah by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar, who met his Saudi counterpart Mohammed Al Jadaan.
The two finance ministers spoke about “financial and economic co-operation” between the two countries, SPA said.
Mr Khan’s tour of the Gulf comes as a Pakistani court yesterday ordered the release of his political rival, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, suspending their prison sentences for corruption pending an appeal hearing.