Our stimulus package is as large as GDP of Pakistan: India tells Imran Khan after he offers 'help'
Anurag Srivastava
India on Thursday reminded Pakistanthe size of the economic relief package extended by New Delhi to its citizens during the pandemic -- which was as large as Pakistan’s GDP.
This official statement came from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a sharp reply to Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s offer to "help" with the cash transfer programme to support India's poor during the coronavirus pandemic.
Also read: Cash-strapped Pakistan wants to 'help' India, Imran offers to 'share the cash transfer programme'
"Our stimulus package is as large as the GDP of Pakistan," MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said.
Asking Pakistan PM to get a "better set of advisors", MEAreminded Islamabad of its debt problems.
Also read: WHO urges Pakistan to return to lockdown as hospitals grapple with COVID-19 cases
Srivastava said, "Pakistan is better known for making cash transfers outside the country rather than giving money to its people. PM Imran Khan needs a better set of advisors andbetter information".
Elaborating Pakistan's serious debt problem, he said that, "Pakistan would do well to recall they have a debt problem, which covers 90% of its GDP and they are asking for debt restructuring."
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In a tweet, ImranKhan, citing a report by experts at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago and the Mumbai-based Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE) said, "34% of households across India will not be able to survive for more than a week without add assistance".
"I am ready to offer help & share our successful cash transfer prog, lauded internationally for its reach & transparency, with India," he added.
Pakistan in the last 24 hours has seen the biggest spike in coronavirus cases --5834 with 101 deaths. The total number of COVID cases in the country now stands at 1,19,536.