Saudi Arabia gives $8bn lifeline to Pakistan

Story by  ATV | Posted by  sabir hussain • 1 Years ago
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

 

Islamabad

Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide Pakistan a "sizeable package" of around $8 billion to help revive the country's ailing economy during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the kingdom, a top official privy to the development said.

The package includes doubling of the oil financing facility, additional money either through deposits or Sukuks (Islamic financial certificates) and rolling over of the existing $4.2 billion facilities, according to a report published in The News.

"However, technical details are being worked out and will take a couple of weeks to get all documents ready and signed," the official said.

Sharif and his official entourage have left Saudi Arabia but Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail is still staying on to finalise the modalities of the increased financial package.

Sharing the salient features of the financial package, the official said that Pakistan had proposed doubling of the oil facility from $1.2 billion to $2.4 billion and Saudi Arabia agreed to it.

It was also agreed that the existing deposits of $3 billion would be rolled over for an extended period up to June 2023.

"Pakistan and Saudi Arabia discussed an additional package of over $2 billion either through deposits or Sukuk and it is likely that even more money will be provided to Islamabad," the official sources said, adding that the size of the total package would be determined when additional money was finalised.