Incompetent PTI govt pushing country toward bankruptcy: Aimal

PESHAWAR: The newly elected provincial president of Awami National Party (ANP) Aimal Wali Khan has said that the PTI government has pushed the country in to an economic abyss.

“The country is close to getting bankrupt according to a World Bank report,” he said during the discussion with eight different delegations at Bacha Khan Markaz.

He said that the circular debt was at a 17-year high. Apparently, he said, the incompetent prime minister has devastated the country’s economy by loot and plunder.

Aimal said that according to economic forecast, inflation is likely to increase by another 13.5%, which puts a question mark on the role of those who brought Imran Khan to power.

Aimal Wali said that the country’s economy had never degenerated like this before whereas the prime minister and his team were sitting patiently.

He added that the incompetence and inexperience of the government could increase the poverty in the country in 2020. He said there was a chance of 7.1% increase in price-hike in 2019 which could jump to 13.5% in 2020.

Aimal Khan said that there was an 8.2% increase in the oil prices during the February 2018 and February 2019 which is the highest rate in South Asia.

Runaway inflation in prices of essential items will put food and fuel commodities beyond the reach of poor people and even hurt the household budgets of middle-income people, he said expressing fear of food-insecurity for the masses.

He said that there was record trade deficit after this government came into power. Aimal calling Imran Khan a security risk for the country said if his government stays Pakistan could become Somalia.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2019.