Imran Khan on Monday left to attend the investment conference in Saudi Arabia. The conference has been boycotted by many attendees over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
However, in an interview, the primer of Pakistan said that though he is concerned at Khashoggi’s death, his country cannot afford to skip the conference. Imran Khan said that Pakistan is going through the worst of times right now and is in ‘desperate’ for a possible loan.
“Unless we get loans from friendly countries or the IMF (International Monetary Fund) we actually won’t have in another two or three months enough foreign exchange to service our debts or to pay for our imports. So we’re desperate at the moment,” he said.
Finance Minister Asad Umar and Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood are accompanying Khan. “will give a chance to connect with those people who are interested in investing in Pakistan,” a statement from prime minister’s office said on Monday.
Khan has been unable to secure any significant financial assistance to stave off a looming balance of payment crisis, in his two visits in over a month’s time period.
During the visit, Imran Khan will also call on King Salman and meet Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to discuss the matters of mutual interest.
Talking to Middle East Eye about the ‘shocking’ death of Khashoggi, Khan said,” The Saudi government will have to come up with an answer… We wait for whatever the Saudi explanation is.”