Islamabad (Pakistan): According to the media reports that Pakistan’s current Prime Minister’ Shehbaz Sharif’ is all set to aim for an additional package of USD 3.2 billion from Saudi Arabia during his ongoing visit to his Kingdom.

Shehbaz Sharif, who is going to start his three-day Shehbaz Sharif, who is going to start his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia Today, will pose this request to avert further depletion of Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves.

As per the Shehbaz Sharif tweet in which he wrote, “Today I am going to visit Saudi Arabia in order to renew and reaffirm our bonds of brotherhood and friendship. I will have a wide range of discussions with Saudi leadership. KSA is one of our greatest friends & as Custodian of the Two Holy Places, has a special place in all our hearts.”

Today I am embarking on a visit to Saudi Arabia to renew & reaffirm our bonds of brotherhood & friendship. I will have wide-ranging discussions with Saudi leadership. KSA is one of our greatest friends & as Custodian of the Two Holy Places, has a special place in all our hearts.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 28, 2022

Moreover, Saudi Arabia had already given USD 3 billion in deposits to the debt-ridden country and an oil facility on deferred payment worth USD 1.2 billion during Imran Khan’s term.

As per some estimates that Pakistan requires USD 12 billion in order to prevent the balance of payment crisis and further depleting foreign currency reserves.

“We are going to urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to increase the amount of the warranty from USD 3 billion to USD 5 billion and double the Saudi Oil Facility (SOF) from USD 1.2 billion to USD 2.4 billion, and the total package could be raised up to USD 7.4 billion during the visit of premier Shehbaz Sharif,” top official sources confirmed while talking to The News International on Wednesday.

Dozens of other officials and political leaders are going to accompany the Prime Minister of Pakistan on his maiden visit to the Kingdom.

After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) raised questions about the modalities and preparations of the visit, Pakistan’s Minister for Information, Marriyum Aurangzeb, responded on Monday, saying Shehbaz Sharif would travel to Saudi Arabia and he is travelling on his own expenses.

She slammed PTI leaders for spreading “lies” about the trip set to take place later this week. “Contrary to lies being propagated by PTI, Prime Minister will be travelling to Saudi Arabia later this week on a commercial flight at his own expense,” Marriyum said on Twitter.

Earlier on Monday, the newly-elected Pak PM headed over a meeting here to examine the preparations for his official visit to Saudi Arabia.