PML-N on Thursday took the PTI-led government to task over the economic policies it has adopted in the last three years, saying Prime Minister Imran Khan “has no knowledge of the basics of economics” and makes decisions in line with advice from “courtiers”.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, addressing the Opposition’s pre-budget seminar, claimed that during the incumbent government’s tenure, as many as five million people have become unemployed.
The former premier further claimed the PTI-led government has pushed 20 million people into poverty and has heavily burdened people by increasing the price of electricity by more than 62%.
He said the PML-N had “taken out 20 million people out of poverty” when it was in power.
Financial losses due to line losses and electricity theft have gone up to 4.5%, he claimed, adding Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited were “bankrupt” today.
Abbasi said the country’s biggest issue was circular debt. “Pakistan’s economy has shrunk by $19 billion in the last three years.”
The former premier claimed that even with the impact of coronavirus on the economy retroactively applied to the PML-N government’s economic indicators, the common man’s income would have risen by 25%.
“People have received the gift of inflation through a stolen election,” he said, implying that the general elections of 2018 were rigged.
PML-N to present own budget
PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, addressing the seminar, said his party would present its own budget in response to the government’s budget.
“It has become difficult for the common man to live a decent life due to the rising unemployment in the last three years,” the PML-N president said, adding that the current economic conditions were due to the government’s “terrible performance”.
