A file photo of PTI chairperson Imran Khan. PHOTO: PPI
“Funds that should be spent on all provinces are being spent on Punjab, especially Lahore,” Imran told a news conference. Calling Lahore the epicentre of the Sharifs, the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf cautioned that such a policy would sharpen the sense of deprivation already felt by other provinces.
“There are significant opportunities to produce cheap electricity in Khyber-Pakhunkhawa (K-P), but the Sharif brothers are investing the funds in Punjab,” he added.
Imran alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was running Pakistan
like a family business against the spirit of democracy.
“All major decisions are taken by PM Nawaz Sharif, in consultation with his brother Shahbaz Sharif, nephew Hamza Sharif, daughter Mariam Nawaz, son-in-law Captain Safdar, and some relatives, including Ishaq Dar and Abid Sher Ali,” he said.
Taking about the almost shabby conditions of K-P and other provinces, Imran said tourism in Swat has been adversely affected as the main road leading to Kalam is broken for the last many years.
“Despite this, K-P Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak’s development fund has been reduced while more money is being allocated to the Lahore Railway,” he added.
Imran said Rs50 billion was allocated to the Lahore Railway although the railway in Karachi cost less money and covered a greater distance.
‘Corrupt budget’
Criticising the federal budget, Imran said the budget had benefitted only a small group of corrupt people. “Pakistan has not seen a more corrupt budget in its history,” he added.
He also claimed that Rs2.135 million was spent on the Prime Minister House while an additional Rs4.3 million was spent on the PM’s foreign trips every day. “[Then] what is the justification of asking the people of Pakistan to make sacrifices during these difficult times?” he questioned.
‘Worse than previous regime’
Speaking at the occasion, PTI leader Asad Umar reiterated the claim that the performance of Nawaz Sharif’s government was worse than that of Asif Ali Zardari.
Umar said government’s claim that the GDP was growing at 4.14% did not hold water. He cited figures by leading economist from the Policy Research Institute (PRI), Dr Hafiz Pasha, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which predicted the growth rate to be between 3.5% and 3.3%, respectively.
“Foreign investment is essential for a country’s economic growth but investment in the country was at an all-time low this year,” he said, adding that the budget deficit had increased from $1.5 billion to $2.1 billion during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure.
According to Umar, the PML-N government had not only failed to meet its own budget targets, it also performed even worse than the previous government.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2014.
COMMENTS (44)
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This is the time og UNITY. While Imran wants to split the nation. He is an agent of Establishment and foreign elements.
PTI's has badly failed in KPK. I am searching for new KPK that was to be given by PTI within 90 days. Now a year is gone but I cannot find new KPK. No action has been taken by PTI government against those Ministers who were dismissed on the charges of corruption. But reality is this that all PTI Ministers and MPAs are busy in corruption. They don't have any time for public. Infrastructure is very poor in KPK. No concrete improvement is observed. I feel that perhaps top leadership of PTI is interfering with KPK affairs that is why CM KPK cannot perform. PTI should learn lesson from Shehbaz Sharif who is working with devotion and full dedication for his province.
Being voter of PTI, it was shocking for me when I read Imran's this statement. I was not expecting such substandaard politics from Imran Khan. Very sad.
Imran's dirty politics can create hate among provinces. He should avoid such statements. I request Media to please dont make headline for such statements. Media should also feel the consequences of such statements and act accordingly. Thanks.
ALLAH bless Pakistan. ALLAH bless Nawaz Sharif.
@sabi: From your way of measuring - Mush got a large amount of aid money. What NS is getting loans that will be paid by your and my children. Even NS has beaten Zardari on it. IK is right on large number of points. What we got is a dumb but business oriented people in the Government who are only benefiting themselves and their kins
Look at what is happening in the country and these pti people are continuously attacking pml n and punjab. I was a pti supporter and am a pathan but seriously is this the right time to create any more rifts. Seriously I am starting to drift away from pti,,, seriously pti especially kpk pti along with imran khan looks totally clueless as far as the existence and integrity of the country is concerned.
Pakistan’s finance minister has no option but to make up numbers. If the real numbers are published, the Pakistani rupee will tank and loans will become impossible to come by. Already, there in no investment coming in and flight of capital is intensifying. PML-N is just running this country on loan taking after intervals from IMF.
Imran Khan is a total nonsense. He never talks sense. He always takes U Turn. No trust on this man.
I am not a PTI support but he is right on this, Sharif & Company think that Pakistan = Punjab = Lahore.
Well Imran Khan and Asad Umer should learn basic mathematics and economics that why Deficit in the past was 1.5 Billion and now is 2.1 Billion USD. The total amount is not that important but what is important is the percentage. He is like saying that in 1948 Pakistan's deficit was in millions but now it is in Billions. !!!! Actually Pakistan's budget is increasing with an annual rate of 10 percent and that infact tells us that Deficit is controlled in terms of the percentage of the total budget. Also i dont know why Imran was silent in PPP's regime but now he is bashing PMLN and bringing Provincialism in it. He was silent on Railways issue Because Bilour was from KPK but since Khwaja Saad Rafique took charge he see every problem in railways.?? Also why he cannot differentiate in the Provincial and the federal projects? To be honest Imran is not a leader but an opportunist in my view,
@ Gohar Correct yourself, PTI is out to change electoral reforms. You think PML(N) will perform in all these years. ??. They just need to complete 5 years, that's it
PTI is unable to handle a small province. They can never handle federal affairs. It is the need of the hour to bring some movement of no confidence for removal of KPK government because they have failed. I suggest that Shahbaz Sharif should be appointed CM of KPK or Governor Rule may also be exercised.
Oh pti gullibles: Listen carefully I tell you what! Foreign embassies in Pakistan have profiles of political parties and prominent figures.On the basis of that profiles foreign governments as well international institutions deal with requests submitted by our government of the time.Now look at short history of last 14 years (minus pmln) and see the assistance extended by foreign lenders-it's very disappointing . Keeping in view NS strong resolve for economic uplift of the country coupled with his past performance as pm dollars are pouring in May it be IMF world bank or China with pledges of over 32 billion$-good news isn't it?.so no mere MoUs but many of the mega project have been signed already.who is going to benefits from these projects? No punjabi alone no pmln supporter alone but every Pakistani is going to benefit from these projects .Gentrlmen! International relations are not based on emotions but on mutual interests.Who is a good guy who is bad guy let us leave the judgements on neutral people that is,world community And by the overwhelming response they have voted in ga our of NS.Accept the reality,pleasant of course,and hope for better Pakistan will be a far better place to live in after few years under NS inshallah.
PTI has no chance in the next elections if PML-n served for 5 years. This is the fear to IK. Due to this fear, he is doing substandard and dirty politics of hate and provincialism.
@Ejaz Noman: You have NOT wasted your vote! Please do NOT lose hope in IK! You have voted for him so you have to trust him and not let all this negativity and hatred against PTI-IK to demoralize and/or influence you! Also, PTI IS delivering in KP! It's a fact!
Imran has proved that he is not fit for the post of PM.
Criticism is the easiest thing to do in this world. So is done by Imran Khan. Imran has nothing to do so he has kept himself busy this way. I am shocked to see the mentality of this man.
No hope from this man. I have wasted my vote. I request IK to please return my vote. I voted for PTI to bring some change but IK is doing the traditional politics of 90's. I was not expecting such politics of agitation from this man. I am sad.
Thanks God this man is not PM of Pakistan. This man will ruin Pakistan the way he is ruining KPK.
Worst politics done by IK. He is trying to create hate among provinces. Shame for this dirty man.
@Raghu: A very valid point!
@Mamu: You supporter of TTP just look what you are exporting to other provinces then talk
@Lala roh: Hello day dreamer there's no sea between Pakistan and Baluchistan therefore forget about imerging Baluchistan as a country. This Imran is the biggest supporter of TTP and Indian agents working againt Pakistan in the name of human rights. If Imran is a well wisher of Pakistan then support the PPO.
@Raghu: Pakistan is not for test and trials - its not cricket ground and over here we can't allow this old fanatic Imran to play with Pakistan. So you just GET LOST.
@Abdullah: Do not use words like mentally sick about a man like Imran Khan who is perfectly capable of delivering and governing in KP! What do you know about his government? Computer ke peechay beth kar yeh baatein karna bohat aasaan hain.. You must be a fan of Saad Rafique to use such words!
God forbade if someone from Karachi had said this...he would have been labelled as ghaddar
and for them Punjab is Lahore
Imran's Rona Dhona continues.
@W: This person is totally failure. Asad Umar is unable to run KP and engro properly. This person and Imran are totally useless. They are only capable of blaming others. Imran is nothing but fanatic old man.
@Aftab: Being a previous supporter? And what exactly did you previously support PTI on that it has changed from?
This man is great.
Sindh, KPK, Kashmir, Balochistan and FATA don't want to be colonies of Punjab any more.
Imran Khan has become mentally sick because of his frustration and inability to form government
You asked for ninety -days we gave you one years to show your worth in KP.Net result is,dismal performance.In one years even kids from schools could have performed better as far cleanliness of cities are concerned. Btw Bhasha dam is not in Punjab also gadani power park is also out of Punjab also jamshoro power planar is in Sindhi .Economic corridor consist of all parts of Pakistan.Multan Bahawalpur are far away from Lahore taking big toll of provincial budget for mega projects such as cancer hospitals medical colleges expressways metro bus and much much more.Tell is a single project of KP government which needed federal government assistance and was ignored.yYou quote always that 'You can fool the people once but not all the people all the time ' This applies to you as well didn't it?
Yeah as if this is a more pressing concern than terrorists attacking a major airport in Karachi and murdering innocent pilgrims. Does this person has any credibility left in the saner, educated masses?
Being much supporter to PTI previously, I am much disappointed from its leadership for what it is doing by organizing Jalsas and rallies. Its present activities are further destabilizing the country. Why not they shut their mouth for next four years so that one can properly criticize the present rulers for doing nothing. I wish PTI leadership get miture and I am happy that they are not in government, otherwise the situation of the country were more worse as they are not enough miture to run the matters of state. I wish Mr Khan realized his actions and put focus on KPK so that we may know either he has capability to lead the nation.
Imran is right, Sharif's corporation Ltd Lahoe is spending the money of poor Pakistani's on Raiwand and Lahore like this is their own money. Even in Lahore there is no significant projects for the poors and lower middle class area such as Mughalpura, Baghbanpura, Badami Bagh, etc. Most of the projects are for the business class who are not even taxed judicously.
Asad Umar is going to give PML-N a tough time in the parliament with his economic expertise! He's an expert in this field! Kudos to IK and PTI leaders for exposing how the budget is really Sharif & Family Co while the other provinces have been side-lined to make more way for Punjab!
Pakistan's finance minister has no option but to make up numbers. If the real numbers are published, the Pakistani rupee will tank and loans will become impossible to come by. Already, there in no investment coming in and flight of capital is intensifying. PTI should not make too much of a song and dance over this.