Colombo:
Cash-strapped Pakistan has presented a USD 50 million new credit line to Sri Lanka to enhance cooperation in defence and safety sectors.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the new credit line through his two-day go to to the island nation that concluded on Wednesday, according to a joint communique issued by the foreign ministries of the two nations.
“Both sides expressed satisfaction at the existing bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and noted that the elevation of staff-level talks to Defence Dialogue has further provided an opportunity to expand security sector relations. Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a new USD 50 million defence credit line facility,” the communique mentioned.
The two sides stressed the will need for stronger partnership for supporting and coordinating with every other in dealing with matters associated to safety, terrorism, organised crime and drug and narcotic trafficking as nicely as intelligence-sharing, it mentioned.
Imran Khan met his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa through his go to in which they discussed regions of popular interest like tourism, agriculture and trade ties.
“Thank you Prime Minister @PresRajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka for a warm welcome and gracious hospitality. Sri Lanka is a special friend and strong partner. I agree that the cooperative ties between our two nations are poised to grow and strengthen,” Imran Khan mentioned in a tweet.
Imran Khan also reiterated Pakistan’s help for the socio-financial improvement of Sri Lanka in line with the vision of a peaceful neighbourhood, Colombo Page reported.
The two nations reached a broad consensus on techniques and indicates to additional strengthen cooperation in a extensive manner and agreed to hold frequent meetings, market higher-level and delegation-level exchanges, and improve the course of action of consultations, cooperation and coordination among their respective institutions, the report mentioned.
Pakistan also announced to provide Rs 52 million for the promotion of sports in Sri Lanka, according to the communique.
Pakistan also announced one hundred scholarships in the field of medicines (MBBS and BDS) as element of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme, the Dawn reported.
Cash-strapped Pakistan’s financial issues have worsened due to the coronavirus pandemic and Khan’s government is arranging finances from globe bodies, which includes the International Monetary Fund, to tide more than the crisis.
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