New Delhi: Saudi Arabia has extended an additional $3 billion in financial support to Pakistan, in addition to the $5 billion deposit it had promised on Friday, providing a significant boost to Islamabad’s external finances at a critical moment, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026, Pakistan’s finance minister Mohammad Aurangzeb said the fresh funds were expected to be disbursed within days and would help shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Aurangzeb said the support would help Pakistan meet its target of building reserves to around $18 billion, or roughly 3.3 months of import cover, in line with commitments under its programme with the International Monetary Fund.
The announcement comes shortly after Pakistan repaid a $1.4 billion Eurobond, which the minister described as a “non-event”.
Saudi Arabia Announces USD 3 Billion Additional Support, Extends USD 5 Billion Deposit: Finance Minister
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has informed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has committed USD 3 billion in additional deposits, with… pic.twitter.com/E8dXPg6g9Y
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) April 15, 2026
ThePrint had reported earlier that Saudi Arabia and Qatar had Friday pledged $5 billion each in financial assistance to Pakistan. This, plus the additional $3 billion from Saudi Arabia comes just before the April-end deadline Pakistan has been set to repay a $3.5 billion debt to the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday in Islamabad to discuss economic cooperation and regional developments. Pakistan had also requested additional financial assistance, including an expansion of existing cash deposits and an extension of its oil financing facility, which is set to expire later this month.
The latest financial support comes amid growing ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with cooperation between the two countries expanding in recent years, including a mutual defence agreement signed last year.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also activated its Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan, leading to the deployment of an unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets and associated personnel to King Abdulaziz Air Base in the kingdom’s eastern region. The full scope and details of the agreement, however, remain unclear. The Saudi defence ministry said Pakistani aircraft and support personnel arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the eastern province, while reports indicated that Islamabad has sent 13,000 troops and 12 to 18 fighter jets.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)