Saudi's 'biggest foreign investment' package to be announced soon: Asad Umer

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar on Thursday said that the incoming Saudi Arabia’s bailout package, which appears to be the “biggest foreign investment in Pakistan’s history”, will be announced soon. 

While addressing an event in the federal capital, Asad informed that the announcement related to the package will be made following the cabinet’s approval.

The minister added, every now and then, he is conveyed messages from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman “through other people to hurry up” for the materialization of talks related to the investment package.

Further, the minister asserted, no society could progress without eradicating corruption. “The public asks me [all the time] when will the thieves be caught,” he told reporters.

“Justice demands that if a pickpocket is to be punished, then so should looters be punished,” the finance minister stressed.

Asad remarked that Prime Minister Imran Khan has a zero-tolerance policy with respect to corruption and has given clear directions to all his cabinet members to bring about a visible change and strengthen all institutions, Radio Pakistan reported.

Yesterday, during an interview to a British news channel, the finance minister said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has devised a strategy to make the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) program the last one for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Islamabad has started approaching other friendly countries to cushion the Pakistan’s current economic situation, the minister added.