'Allies no longer expect us to come with begging bowl': Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan seeks more aid

In a striking statement that appears to clash with Pakistan’s economic reality, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the world no longer views Pakistan as a country with a “begging bowl,” but instead as one eager to engage in trade, commerce, and innovation.

Addressing a gathering of military officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, Balochistan, Sharif said: "China is the most time-tested friend of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia is one of the most reliable friends of Pakistan, and so are others such as Turkey, Qatar, and UAE."

However, he quickly added a caveat that these nations now expect Pakistan to engage them as equal partners rather than financial dependents. “But let me point out abundantly here that they expect us now to engage them in trade, commerce, innovation, research and development, education and health, investments, and profitable ventures mutually. They no longer expect us to go there with a begging bowl,” he stressed.

BEGGING BOWL ERA OVER FOR PAKISTAN? Pakistans allies no longer expect it to come with a begging bowl, says PM Shehbaz Sharif but as equals looking to foster mutual innovation and development. pic.twitter.com/nw8gtk3HJy

Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) June 1, 2025

The timing of Shehbaz’s comments is noteworthy. Just weeks ago, Pakistan received a $1 billion tranche as part of a $7-billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme initiated in 2023 to avert a sovereign default. The IMF also cleared a $1.3-billion tranche under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

With debt repayments looming and foreign reserves barely enough to cover three months of imports, Pakistan continues to knock on the doors of global lenders and Gulf allies for financial lifelines.

Only this year, Islamabad has approached Saudi Arabia and the UAE for deferred oil payments and direct budgetary support. In fact, Pakistan’s external debt has surged past $133 billion by the end of 2024, and interest payments alone consume over 40% of federal revenues.

Meanwhile, China has assured Pakistan of re-lending $3.7 billion in commercial loans, denominated in Chinese currency, before June end, in a move that will keep the foreign exchange reserves in double digits.