The German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has said that Pakistan has just "a few days" to raise billions of dollars in foreign loans.

After meeting senior members of the government, he said that Pakistan had no choice but to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr Steinmeier said that the loan was needed to avoid a deepening crisis.

Economists say that the country needs up to $15bn over the next 24 months to stabilise the economy.