India, June 1 -- Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that nations no longer expect Islamabad to approach them with a "begging bowl" but rather seek engagement as equal partners in trade, investment, and innovation.

"China is the most time-tested friend of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia is one of the most reliable friends of Pakistan, and so are others such as Turkey, Qatar, and UAE," said Shehbaz Sharif while addressing army officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, Balochistan.

"But let me point out abundantly here that they expect us now to engage them in trade, commerce, innovation, research and development, education and health, investments, and profitable ventures mutually. They no longer expect us to go ther...