Imran Khan arrives in Arabia to attend a conference on investment

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Saudi Arabia to attend a conference on investment.

Before leaving, Mr. Khan had told an interviewer that he was concerned about Khashoggi's death but could not skip the conference because "we are desperate" for possible Saudi loans. to support the Pakistani economy.

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives in Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Prime Minister's Advisor on Investment Abdul Razak Dawood . @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/9WNhvGZ76M

– Office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan (@PakPMO) of October 22, 2018

This is the second visit of Khan in Saudi Arabia in just over a month, but he failed to secure significant financial badistance to stave off an imminent balance of payments crisis.

Khan told Middle East Eye in an interview published Monday that he could not let the invitation to meet with Saudi leaders again. .

"The reason I feel I have to seize this opportunity is that in a country of 210 million people we currently have the worst debt crisis in our history," he said. declared. we get loans from friendly countries or the IMF (International Monetary Fund), we will not have sufficient foreign currency in two or three months to pay our debts or pay our imports. We are so desperate. "

Islamabad has already asked the IMF to open negotiations For the country's second potential bailout in five years

Khan, who took office in July, is still looking for alternatives to harsh conditions that the IMF is likely to impose on loans, thus limiting its vision of an Islamic welfare state.] 19659003] The foreign exchange reserves of the central bank fell this month to $ 8.1 billion, This is the lowest level in four years and barely enough to cover sovereign debt payments due until the end of the year, with the current account deficit reaching about $ 18 billion.

Khan blamed the policies of the previous government for the growing current account deficit.

He told Middle East Eye that he was concerned about the "shocking" death of Khashoggi, a resident of the United States and Washington editorialist Post, after entering the country. the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"The Saudi government will have to find an answer … We are waiting whatever the Saudi explanation," he said. "We hope that there will be a satisfactory explanation for the people and that those responsible will be punished."

"The last thing the Muslim world needs is another conflict." The Trump administration is moving towards such, "he told the newspaper.

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