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ISLAMABAD: Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Prime Minister’s Special Representative (PMSR) for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East, said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are all-weather friends of Pakistan.
He told APP that the UAE has helped Pakistan in the tough time by not only rolling over the existing loans of 2 billion dollars, but providing additional 1 billion dollars also.
He said that this generous support would further consolidate bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries.
PM UAE visit
Ashrafi said that the recent visit of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the UAE would open new avenues of cooperation in the fields of investment, trade and energy.
He also appreciated Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Salman for coming to Pakistan’s help in the difficult economic situation.
Citing the Crown Prince’s statement about increasing the Kingdom’s assistance and investment in Pakistan, he said it was an evidence of exclusive religious and diplomatic affinity between the two countries.
He said that as per reports the Saudi Fund for Development is going to conduct a study on increasing the deposits with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to 5 billion dollars from 3 billion dollars and to also asses the options for increasing in investments to 10 billion dollars.
He also extended his gratitude to international donors, including Saudi Arabia and UAE for committing over 9 billion dollars to help Pakistan recover from the ravages of devastating floods last year.
