ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has hit back hard against the United States Secretaryof State Mike Pompeo statement over IMF and Chinese loans payback.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdullah Hussain Haroon has said that the USstatement on the IMF bailout package is inappropriate.

Reacting to the statement, he said that it is not correct to link the IMFbailout package to CPEC. “Why is the US so much worried about the problemsof Pakistan? We have friends who are helpful in autonomy and solidarity ofthe country,” he said.

Abdullah Haroon said that they had helped their friends in difficult timeand they would help them.

“A new democratic government is about to assume the power. No one canhamper the success of CPEC,” he said.

He said that the US has demanded ‘Do More’ from Pakistan since itsinception. “America knows that Pakistan faces economic challenges. Pakistanhas paid a heavy price in the war against terrorism,” he said.

The minister said the US has still to make payments under the head ofallies’ fund. “The US should understand the facts about the Pakistanmatter,” he said.

He said that Pakistan is bound to complete CPEC within the specified time.