According to Pakistan’s News International, the Qatari leader on Monday night hosted a dinner for the visiting delegation that included Pakistan’s ministers of finance, petroleum, foreign affairs and other high-ranking officials.
Khan is in Qatar on an official two-day visit at the invitation of the country’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
News International reported that this visit comes after Khan last month opened a visa facilitation center in Islamabad for swift processing of visas of members of the Pakistan workforce wishing to work in Qatar.
Doha has promised 100,000 jobs for Pakistani workers.
Pakistan’s Express Tribune meanwhile reported on Tuesday that Khan is likely to ask Qatar authorities to provide Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) worth $4 billion on deferred payment and reduced price to support balance of payment.
Pakistan’s annual import bills of LNG is around $4 billion.
The Express Tribune reported that a Pakistan government official said Khan is likely to ask Doha authorities to extend deferred payment for one year.
He said Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is currently paying the LNG import bill to Qatar after 15 days.
The official also said that the premier would ask Qatar to give a concessional loan, similar to that given by Saudi Arabia and UAE, to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
This is the first visit to Qatar by Khan, who assumed office in August 2018.
Pakistan is battling to bring under control a gaping current account deficit that’s badly affected its economy and lowered growth.
Islamabad has been engaged in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the past few months and has also sought financial help from allies including the UAE, China and Saudi Arabia.
In December Reuters reported the United Arab Emirates said it would deposit $3 billion into Pakistan’s central bank. At the time a Pakistani official said Islamabad also hoped the UAE would allow deferred payments for oil supplies.
This came after Saudi Arabia said in October it would lend Pakistan $6 billion, including a $3 billion deposit for its foreign currency reserves and another $3 billion in deferred oil payments.
