No strings attached to Saudi economic package, clarifies Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday called for soul-searching to determine how the country found itself in the present situation.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he asked who are responsible for the current state of the country. “Where are we heading? How the downward spiral of the economy began and how state institutions were rendered ineffective? Who is responsible for all this,” he questioned.

“Today, people look towards institutions not the state for dispensation of justice,” he opined and added it would be a good step if we begin a new era. He asked detractors to rest assured as nothing is going to happen that will hurt the country’s interests.

Referring to the opposition’s questions about the terms and conditions on which Saudi Arabia agreed to extend a financial bailout package to Pakistan, he said Islamabad promised Riyadh nothing as its financial support is without any strings attached to it.

The minister said Pakistan enjoys close brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia which will be further strengthened after the recent visits of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Kingdom. He said the prime minister has offered to play a mediatory role to resolve the Yemen conflict and his initiative has been welcomed by all the parties concerned.

The kingdom offered the financial assistance to help Islamabad overcome the financial difficulties as the Saudi loan stabilised the country’s economy, removing uncertainty in this regard.

About the prime minister’s visit to China, he said the visit remained very successful.

He said the nation is united on CPEC and the government will complete all ongoing projects under this corridor. He said delegates from 130 countries attended the Shanghai Expo and the prime minister was one of the seven prominent world leaders who were invited for Keynote Address on this occasion.

He said Pakistan Pavilion was one of the eight pavilions which were visited by the world leaders. He said fifteen agreements and MoUs have been signed between the two countries regarding Human development, Education, Health, Skill development, poverty alleviation, Agriculture and Industrial development.