There is no free lunch

Letter October 27, 2018
Things might change for Pakistan after securing $6 billion for Saudi Arabia

KARACHI: In an attempt to keep his promise of not taking the ‘begging bowl’ to the IMF, Prime Minister Imran Khan has turned it towards Saudi Arabia for the second time, and seems like he has been successful.

In his second trip to Riyadh, Prime Minister Imran Khan has secured $6 billion worth of economic aid for the country. This too at a time when many countries have shown displeasure in working with Saudi Arabia in the wake of Khashoggi’s mysterious death.

Getting financial aid from any country does not come without strings attached. While previously we had not taken sides in the Yemen conflict and in the faltered relation between KSA and Qatar, things might just change. And if that happens, it would come at the cost of Pakistan’s well-being.

Let’s hope that Mr Khan in his attempts to avoid an IMF bailout didn’t end up putting Pakistan under further stress.

Munawar Azmi

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2018.

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