PML-N to go tough on govt’s economic policies

Party devises strategy to highlight ‘failure’ to curb surging prices


​ Our Correspondent February 07, 2020
Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N has devised a strategy against the PTI-led government’s economic policies, which it claims are responsible for the increasing prices of essential commodities.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the vice president of the PML-N, presided over a meeting of the party’s economic advisory council attended by its senior leaders.

The participants of the meeting decided to launch an awareness campaign both in and outside parliament on the government’s “failure” to curb the surge in prices. Seminars will be organised across the country to inform the business community about the “flaws” in the government’s economic policies.

The situation will also be highlighted on TV talk shows and at news conferences.

The PML-N will lodge its protest against the price hike during the National Assembly session on Monday. From Tuesday, the party will also set up a protest camp outside gate no 1 of the parliament building.

PPP to launch countrywide movement against 'PTIMF' economic policies

Separately, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has blamed the government for the rising prices of sugar in the country, criticising its decision to import the sweetener after allowing its export earlier.

“Influential people in the government under the patronage of Prime Minister Imran Khan are involved in a sugar scandal worth billions of rupees,” he alleged in a statement issued from London on Friday.

“These elements with vested interests first exported sugar and will now make more profits by importing it,” he added.

Shehbaz, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, demanded that the sugar stocks of the mills owned by PM Imran’s close aides should be checked for hoarding.

“The nation deserves to know about the influential people in the government involved in making profits by exporting sugar,” he added.
He questioned the government’s decision to allow the export of sugar despite a “20% reduction in production of sugar cane”.

“If the government is honest, why doesn’t it allow the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate into the matter?” he asked.
He claimed that the investigation report into the matter had not come to the fore yet because PM Imran and his ministers were involved in the “sugar scandal”.

Authorities seem to be struggling to control crisis of essential commodities one after another as oil and ghee scarcity and price hike have surfaced across the country.

Flour, then sugar and now edible oil prices have skyrocketed, affecting the public.

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