PTI lambasts govt's 'failed policies'
PTI lawmakers have criticised the federal government over the country's economic situation, the agriculture crisis, wheat policy and IMF programmes.
On Friday, Adviser to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa CM on Finance Muzammil Aslam, MNA Mobeen Arif Jatt, and MNA Osama Mela addressed a joint press conference in the federal capital.
Aslam said the country is being hit by one tragedy after another, while the rulers are showing no serious concern. Referring to the recent Karachi fire incident and the ongoing operation in Tirah, he stressed that such incidents should not be politicised.
He announced that the K-P government is establishing a disaster fund to ensure the immediate availability of resources during emergencies. Aslam claimed that Pakistan's economy is in its worst condition and that once again a search is on for a so-called "wonder boy."
In a sarcastic remark, he said that while the voting age is being set at 25, it should not come to a point where the age to contest elections is raised to 50.
Aslam claimed that despite the IMF programme, the investment climate in the country has not improved. He said India is strengthening itself economically, while the UAE is moving towards defence and economic agreements with India.
Questioning the PM's four-year tenure, he said the government was planning to take further loans for the energy sector and that the prime minister's visit to Davos had brought no good news.
He alleged that wheat was being purchased from farmers at Rs2,200 per maund but sold in the market at Rs5,000, with no action being taken.
He further claimed that wheat was not being supplied to the K-P, while bribes of up to Rs300,000 were being taken from trucks transporting wheat from Punjab.
MNA Mobeen Arif Jatt said exports from July to December stood at only $3.12 billion, while foreign investment had dropped to just $260 million, reflecting an 89 percent decline.
He said this was clear evidence that investors were leaving the country. He added that baseless audits and FIRs against top exporters by the Federal Board of Revenue had left the business community deeply distressed.
According to him, more money had been invested in Dubai real estate than within Pakistan. He said exorbitant electricity tariffs had crippled industry, while agriculture's share in the national economy continued to decline.
MNA Osama Mela said Pakistan has always been in search of a "wonder boy," whereas the economy could only improve through the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.
Speaking about farmers' issues, he said wrong government policies have caused severe losses to growers of wheat, potatoes, kinnow, and lemons.
He said the decision to import wheat from Ukraine is clear proof of an anti-farmer policy.
Due to the closure of the Afghan transit route and problems on the Iran route, farmers' supply chains have been devastated. He alleged that government policies had encouraged black marketing and deprived farmers of fair compensation for their hard work.
In conclusion, Aslam said Pakistan has so far entered into 25 IMF programmes, most of them during the tenures of the current rulers.