Beijing: China, which has offered a $9 billion bailout package to Pakistan, on Monday pledged more support for the cash-strapped nation, saying that it has done its “utmost” to stabilise the financial situation of its all-weather ally and will continue to do so. Pakistan had been engaging with China and Saudi Arabia for financial support, including rolling over maturing loans as part of arrangements for about $35 billion putouts against debt and liabilities during the current fiscal year.
Pakistan’s finance minister Ishaq Dar has said Islamabad would be getting about $9 billion from China and $4 billion from Saudi as the government tries to steady the nation’s weak economy.
Quoting Xi Jinping, Dar said the Chinese President in his meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif had assured him, “don’t worry, we will not let you down”. Replying to a query on his reactions to Dar’s assertions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing, “China has done its utmost to help Pakistan stabilise its financial situation. We have been doing so, and we will continue to do so. ”
