ISLAMABAD – The spokesperson of the government on economy and energy issuesDr Farrukh Saleem has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’ s visit to SaudiArabia was a positive step in the right direction and it would be highlybeneficial for our national and economic interests.
Talking to a private news channel, he said, PM will visit Riyadh on October23 on the special invitation of Saudi King Salman to participate in thethree-day ‘Future Investment Initiative’ conference .
Reaching out to friendly countries for the assistance might be a betteroption than resorting to the IMF, headded.
Farrukh said, Pakistan needed the support of sincere and true friends inthe existing economic crises. Pakistan’s current economic situation,especially depleting foreign exchange reserves, required immediatefinancial assistance, he added.
He stressed that the PM’s visit would be very productive and in the bestinterest of the country and no one should make an issue out of it asPakistan desired peaceful ties with all its neighboring countries however,these ties must be based on mutual respect and equality.Dr Farruk said “We are trying to open other avenues so that both countriescan have closer ties, increase economic cooperation and have Saudicompanies invest in Pakistan.”
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However, the PTI government was doing its best to avoid going to theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and instead reaching out to Saudi Arabia,China and other Gulf countries to shore up its forex reserves.
The Spokesperson said that Pakistan enjoyed a special status in the Muslimworld and it was pleasing that Saudi Arabia would further develop itsrelationship with it during the tenure of the new Pakistani government.
