Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that the country’s key allies now expect strategic partnerships grounded in trade, innovation, and investment, not financial handouts.Addressing senior military officers in Quetta, Sharif declared the end of Pakistan’s reliance on foreign aid, saying key allies such including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE, now expect equal partnerships based on trade and innovation.“They no longer expect us to go there with a begging bowl,” Sharif said, in a speech signaling a shift in Pakistan’s international posture. “China is the most time-tested friend of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia is one of the most reliable and trustworthy friends of Pakistan, and so are others, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE. But let me make this point abundantly clear. 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 emphasized the need to transition from dependency to self-reliance, urging the country to harness its own natural and human resources. “We must make full use of them and deploy them for these very profitable ventures,” he said.The Prime Minister’s remarks came in the presence of Field Marshal Asim Munir, reinforcing a message of shared national responsibility. “He would be the last person, along with me, to carry this burden on our shoulders,” Sharif said.The speech comes days after the International Monetary Fund granted a loan package of over $2.3 billion. India had objected to the deal, accusing Pakistan of using such funds to support state-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan has sought IMF support 25 times since 1958.
