Quetta: In a rare and candid admission, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the country’s dire financial condition, stating that even its closest allies no longer expect Islamabad to go around the world with a “begging bowl.”
Addressing Pakistani military personnel in Quetta on Saturday, Sharif said allies like China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE now expect economic engagement, not aid requests. “They want trade, investment, innovation, and mutual growth. They don’t want us arriving empty-handed anymore,” Sharif was quoted as saying, in remarks carried by India Today.
The statement comes on the heels of India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 people dead, mostly non-Muslim tourists.
🚨Utterly Humilating!!
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s another SHOCKING admission after admitting BrahMos strikes:
“Even trusted allies like China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar & UAE don’t want Pakistan constantly begging with a bowl in hand.” pic.twitter.com/pyrYwRXhmD
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) May 31, 2025
Sharif’s remarks, coming after Pakistan’s muted response to reported BrahMos missile strikes, reflect mounting pressure on the embattled leader to rescue a battered economy while fending off geopolitical isolation.
On May 10th, Pakistan had planned an attack on India at 4:30AM to “teach the enemy a lesson” but before that could happen, India launched BrahMos strikes across Pak’s provinces including the Rawalpindi airbase — Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif. This is Bunyan for you. Munir promoted… pic.twitter.com/kbrcLvFYVn
— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) May 29, 2025
Critics labeled the comment as a national embarrassment, pointing to the country’s recent $1 billion IMF bailout—a move pushed through despite Indian opposition. The term “begging bowl” has long symbolized Pakistan’s repeated appeals for foreign aid, and Sharif’s blunt tone only underscores how deep the crisis has become.
While Sharif praised the “trustworthy” friendship of regional powers, he admitted that mere strategic loyalty no longer guarantees financial lifelines.
“It’s no longer about sympathy. It’s about substance,” said one analyst, interpreting the shift as both a diplomatic reckoning and a wake-up call for Pakistan’s leadership.
