Overview
- Pakistan, according to Sunday reports, expects $5 billion from Riyadh and Doha to help cover a $3.5 billion payment due to the UAE and to bolster foreign reserves of about $16.4 billion.
- Abu Dhabi had rolled over loans since 2018 but recently sought immediate settlement, and Pakistani officials framed the repayment as a matter of national dignity.
- Saudi finance minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, foreign minister Ishaq Dar, and army chief Asim Munir in Islamabad, and officials said talks signaled support without formal agreements.
- Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb heads to Washington for IMF–World Bank meetings starting April 13 to press for program progress, as local reporting says Qatar could replace the UAE as a designated deposit holder under the IMF plan.
- Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said Pakistani aircraft and support crews arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base, while separate media reports of far larger troop and jet deployments have not been confirmed.