Islamabad
Cash-strapped Pakistan on Friday received USD 1 billion from its close ally Saudi Arabia as part of a second bailout package to boost the country’s dwindling dollar reserves, according to media reports.

The latest package has shored up the central bank’s foreign reserves, hitting the USD 9.4 billion mark, said State Bank of Pakistan Spokesman Abid Qamar.

In October, Saudi Arabia agreed to provide Pakistan USD 3 billion in foreign currency support for a year to address its balance-of-payments crisis.

During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia on October 23, it was announced that the oil-rich country will provide a USD 6 billion package to Pakistan to support its ailing economy.

The package included USD 3 billion balance of payments support and USD 3 billion in deferred payments on oil import.

According to figures shared by Prime Minister Khan in October, the country’s total foreign debt has surged to Rs 30,000 billion within the last decade, while circular debt has reached Rs 1,200 billion, the report said.