Pakistan, June 17 -- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Pakistan's economy had left the "intensive care unit".

He made the remarks while speaking in the National Assembly, during which he also talked about insecurity in Balochistan and Pakistan's role in brokering the agreement with the United States and Iran.

"When we [presented] the first budget, we were insolvent. There was always the danger that we would default today or tomorrow. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailed us out with strict conditions, which we are now bearing but we have become solvent. Our economy is breathing; it has left the ICU," he said. "I will not say that we are reaching the stars but our trajectory bears witness that in one or two years ...