ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia had assured the South Asian country of its support amid a financial crunch.
The financial crunch threatens the South Asian nation's ability to meet its international financial obligations and service huge external debts.
Pakistan has been scrambling to secure assistance from friendly states in the wake of a pending review by the International Monetary Fund of its $7 billion loan program.
Dar told a private TV station he had held a "detailed discussion" with his Saudi counterpart in October, when he accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Kingdom.
"Yes, both things are under active consideration," Dar told Pakistan's SAMAA TV channel, when asked if Pakistan was looking to get another deferred oil payment facility and more deposits from the Kingdom.
"I have held a detailed discussion with their finance minister and the vibe is positive there too. They assured that 'we will support you'."
Dar said the Saudi finance minister's statement that the Kingdom would continue to support Pakistan was a continuation of the same process.
Prior to that, Saudi Arabia also extended the term of a $3 billion deposit with Pakistan to help the country stave off with its economic crisis, besides $1.2 billion worth of oil imports on deferred payments.
Dar said he was trying to have the matters finalized at the earliest and not to have them linked with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Pakistan.
The Saudi crown prince was to arrive in Pakistan in November but the visit was postponed, Pakistan's foreign office had said, without citing reasons.
The foreign office said at the time it was in the process of firming up new dates for the much-anticipated visit.