- Prime Minister addresses the Nation
- No corrupt person will get an NRO
- Pakistan to act as mediator in Yemen war
- Khan thanks Saudi Arabia for bailout package
ISLAMABAD, October 24: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the assistance provided by Saudi Arabia has lessened the financial burden on Pakistan.
Khan said so while addressing the nation in order to take the people into confidence over his recent visit to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s political and economic situation.
He said they were thankful to Saudi Arabia for its help in a difficult time.
“We were trying to get loans from our friendly nations so we rely less and less on IMF,” the prime minister said in his address. “We are also in talks with other friendly countries.”
He said he was hoping to give the nation more good news in the coming days.
Khan said that he will try to get Muslim countries together, besides acting as a “mediator” in resolution of conflicts between Muslim countries.
“We are trying our best to act as a mediator to resolve the Yemen crisis,” he said.
The prime minister vowed to continue the fight against corruption alleging that Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz want to get an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) from his government.
He stated that his government will not give any NRO to these parties.
“If these two parties want to take to streets, then they should go ahead with it,” Khan said, promising to provide them containers for camping out.
“Get this loud and clear, there will be no NRO. I will not spare any corrupt individual,” he said.
The prime minister lamented that billions of rupees were being found in the fake account of an ice-cream vendor.
“Where is this coming from? How will we return the loans?” he said, vowing to uproot corruption at all cost.
“Do what you want, I am again stating that everyone will be held accountable,” Khan said. “We have not yet registered any case against anyone, but efforts are being made to blackmail us.”
On Tuesday, the government struck a deal for a 12-month balance of payments lifeline with Saudi Arabia, which will deposit $3 billion with Pakistan’s central bank and provide a matching one-year deferred payment facility for oil imports. According to a government statement, the visit by the premier to the kingdom resulted in significant understandings between the two countries.
Far-reaching decisions on bilateral economic and financial cooperation were also agreed during the meetings with Saudi leadership, it said. “It was agreed that Saudi Arabia will place a deposit of USD 3 Billion for a period of one year as balance of payment support,” the statement said.
“It was also agreed that a one year deferred payment facility for import of oil, up to USD 3 Billion, will be provided by Saudi Arabia. This arrangement will be in place for three years, which will be reviewed thereafter.”
On his visit, the prime minister met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and attended the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference where he launched a charm offensive targeting potential investors as Pakistan seeks to secure funds amid a yawning balance of payment crisis.-Agencies
