Imran going around world begging for funds: Sindh CM

Pakistan's Sindh province Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of travelling around the world to "beg" for financial support for his cash-strapped country.

"Imran Khan is going from country to country to beg (for financial aid)," Shah, a leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said in a speech at a rally in Matli, Badin on Sunday.

He also claimed that those without any experience in politics were given a seat in the government, Samaa TV reported.

On January 5, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had finalised a $6.2 billion support package to help Pakistan address its balance of payments challenge.

According to a report in Dawn newspaper, the package involved $3.2 billion worth of oil supplies on deferred payment, besides a $3 billion cash deposit. It was expected to be announced by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his two-day visit to the country starting Sunday.

The daily had cited a government official as saying that the package was similar to that given by Saudi Arabia.

With this, Pakistan would get a total saving of about $7.9 billion on oil and gas imports from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, accounting for more than 60 per cent of annual oil import bill of about $12-13 billion, the official said.

The government had also started backchannel discussions with Qatar for some relief in terms of reduction in LNG prices or a relaxed payment schedule, but that was at an early stage, the daily said.

Khan had also visited China in November to seek economic assistance. That time, state-run news channel PTV ran "Begging" dateline instead of "Beijing" on screen during the live broadcast of his speech and became a target of trolling by netizens.

--IANS

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