Bilawal criticises PM Imran over IMF deal review

Says PM backtracking on his strategies; inflation, unemployment result of flawed policies

KARACHI:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto on Thursday said that the government's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resulted in skyrocketing inflation and the depreciation of the rupee.

"The economy of the country would not have been destroyed had Imran Khan listened to us [on the IMF agreement]," Bilawal said. He added that the deal was a depiction of the fact that the premier does not have the sagacity of an able ruler.

"First, the government spoke in defence of its decision to not sign a deal with the organisation, then for delaying it, and now they seek a U-turn from that as well," the PPP chief stated.

Also read Tarin hints at ‘renegotiating’ IMF agreement

According to Bilawal, "Imran makes mistakes, then he admits them, and then he repeats them. This is a country, not a classroom." He vowed that PPP will hinder the "premier's design to receive a further Rs1,200 billion in taxes from the masses."

"Imran increases the tariffs of power, gas, and petrol on the directives of the IMF and then he says he is independent in his decisions."

"We will not let the paid employees of IMF decide for the masses. The current inflation and joblessness are due to the policies of the incumbent government."

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin ruled out an exit from the IMF programme, but unveiled his own pro-economic growth plan that contradicts the objectives of the fund’s stabilization agenda.