ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has removed the acting chief of state-run television after a caption read “Begging” instead “Beijing” during a broadcast of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China, which has promised economic aid to the impoverished South Asian country.
PTV apologized after “Begging” ran on screens for 20-25 seconds on Monday while Khan was making a speech, kicking off a debate on social media as to whether the misspelling was deliberate.
Khan has criticized Pakistan’s many international bailouts and decried previous leaders as roaming the world with a begging bowl.
Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Tuesday that “Pakistan’s immediate balance of payment crisis is over,” adding that the combined Saudi support plus as-yet-unspecified aid promised by China had shored up foreign currency reserves.