Pakistan cannot survive on loans: Imran

Meets veteran politician Mumtaz Bhutto at his residence

KARACHI: Pakistan’s economy is facing a grim situation and the country can no longer survive on back-to-back loans, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said on Monday.

He pointed out that although there was an army of unemployed youth with good qualifications, the government was unable to create sufficient jobs.

Pakistan’s business community, he said, needed to evolve a plan to reform the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for reshaping it as an independent entity. Speaking at a ceremony organised by the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad at Khaliqdina Hall, Khan said that if PTI was voted to power, reforming FBR, which had become problematic for the entire business community, would be one of his party’s priorities.



Khan said that if his party came to power, he would decrease taxes, encouraging people to raise the quantum of national revenue.

Imran Khan said: “Pakistanis mostly lack leadership and self-confidence and this is why we have failed to cope with the modern world. For 700 years, Muslims led the world because they used Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as their role model.”

Stressing the need for radical changes in personal lives, he said that it was the only way for ensuring national progress.

Khyber-Pakhtunkha, he said, was making rapid progress because of an empowered local government system.



He also pointed out that shares of Bank of Khyber had surged from Rs5 to Rs16 over the past three year, indicating the province’s real progress.

Karachi, he said, was a multi-cultural city and its growth and development was only possible if there was an honest leadership governing it.

Later, Imran Khan also addressed another gathering organised by All Pakistan Memon Federation.

Appreciating their contribution to funding Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, he said that the community was also running several other welfare projects on its own.



Pakistan Steel Mills and other industrial units are suffering losses because Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is no longer honest and righteous (Sadiq and Ameen), Imran Khan said in his final public address here.

Urging the working class to demand accountability of all corrupt political leaders, Imran Khan said that the prime minister should present himself for public accountability.

“The rulers have done nothing for public welfare during the past four years of their rule,” Imran said while speaking at a labour convention in Landhi.

The convention, organized by PTI, was attended by workers from various industries, including Pakistan Steel Mills.



“Corrupt rulers are to be blamed for destroying state institutions … They must be held accountable,” he said.

Appreciating the labourers, he said that they were the backbone of national economy, adding that all of their hard work was wasted when rulers resorted to money laundering.

Criticising lack of welfare projects for the working class, he said: “The government is, without any doubt, anti-labour. Workers are deprived of free medical and educational facilities for their families, especially their children … They do not even get enough pension when they retire after a lifetime of sacrifice.”

Earlier, the PTI chief, who was accompanied by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, met Mumtaz Bhutto at his residence for offering condolences on the death of his elder brother.



It is learnt that Imran Khan offered the veteran politician to join PTI.

Mumtaz Bhutto sought some time for consulting with his party’s leaders.