Budget deficit unmasked govt’s tall claims, says Shehbaz

Gill censures PML-N for leaving high circular debt

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the budget deficit estimated in the annual outlay for financial year 2020-21 by the government was a refutation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s claims.

“For the first time in the history, a budget deficit of more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP is even more troubling than coronavirus. The government’s claim that the budget deficit was 7.1 per cent last year proved wrong. Today, the truth is that it is 9.1% of the GDP,” he said in a statement.

Shehbaz, who is also the PML-N president, said as per independent economists estimate, the deficit would be more than 10 per cent of the GDP.

He said: “It also proved that our economy had already been devastated by the historic budget deficit much before the coronavirus pandemic.”

In addition to such development, the PML-N president alleged that the incumbent government also failed in controlling the circular debt. Compared to the PML-N government, under the PTI government, the circular debt has tripled to a record high of Rs2.1 trillion, he added.

“The government should realise that they are the trustees of the public capital. Do not mortgage the future of the nation,” he said, advising the Centre to invest in education and health sectors.

The PTI’s federal and provincial governments have slashed education budgets, Shehbaz claimed.

“If the federation and the provinces do not provide resources, how will our youth be imparted education,” he lamented.

Reacting to the development, the government’s point-man on political communication said the PML-N government had left the circular debt of Rs38 billion.

“The PTI government has brought the circular debt to the level of Rs12 billion per month. Expensive imported fuel factories in the cycle of your [PML-N] commission are still your burden on this nation,” Shahbaz Gill said in an official handout.

He claimed that all “pre-coronavirus statistics” testify that the country’s economy was starting to move in the right direction. “If you do not have the strength to speak and admit the truth, try to avoid lies.”

On judiciary, Gill accused the PML-N of regularly attacking the Supreme Court. “It is a high example of hypocrisy that today the PML-N is talking about the respect for the judiciary.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan has always accepted the decisions of the judiciary, he added.

“The same judiciary called your [PML-N] leader corrupt, dishonest and a liar while Imran Khan was declared honest and trustworthy,” Gill said.

“Sadiq and Amin Imran Khan is certified by the SC and this honour will never let you be in peace,” he said. “You did not even leave a land like Mecca to discredit the judiciary.”

The PML-N has done the most damage to the reputation of the judiciary in the country, he alleged.