Fact check: Saudi Arabia has not recently changed its investment policies for Pakistan

2026-03-07 - 05:33

Multiple users — including Indian, Afghan and pro-PTI accounts — across various social media platforms have been sharing a Geo News clip since March 5, 2026, claiming that the media outlet reported that Saudi Arabia had recently changed its policies regarding Pakistan with respect to grants, deposits, and investments. However, the clip is from 2023. In December last year, Saudi Arabia announced that it would roll over a $3 billion loan to Pakistan for another year, making it the first relief for Islamabad after the two countries signed a defence pact. Pakistan also gets oil from Saudi Arabia on deferred payments to stabilise its paltry foreign exchange reserves. On March 5, a user who appears to be a PTI supporter from his bio shared a video of a Geo News bulletin reporting that Saudi Arabia changed its policies related to Pakistan in terms of investment. “BREAKING NEWS: Saudi Arabia bans free money to Pakistan! No money without conditions!! Pakistan should first show development!! We won’t give public tax money for free to anyone like this,” reads the caption.