Withdrawal of subsidy from gas, electricity, petroleum: government criticised for not giving relief to masses

Muzaffar Hussain Khan Magsi, chief of Seraiki Inqilabi Council, Rehmat-ullah Vardag, chief of Tehrik-i-Istaqlal, and Mansoor Ahmed Khan, chief of Pakistan Democratic Party, have said that the Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Shaukat Tarin was "a parrot of IMF", talking in its language.
They said that the government is not giving subsidy of even a single penny on petroleum products, electricity, and natural gas. Instead, it is earning more than Rs 200 billion on these products. Talking to newsmen here on Monday, they said: "IMF is an octopus, which has entrapped our ill-conceived leaders." They appealed to the parliamentarians to press the government to get rid of IMF-salaried persons who are shattering the country's economy.
Mansoor said that World Bank, IMF and other global monetary agencies had destroyed Pakistan's agriculture, industry, and exports, "and now we have to import cotton, wheat, pulses, sugar. Our exports have declined by 19 percent and we are losing the world markets rapidly because our products are costly." He said: "What a pity, that we are ready to get electricity from different countries but we are not ready to clear the dues of IPPs to end the load shedding." He asked: "Why are we purchasing costly electricity when the cheapest power is available in the country?"
He said that it is a ridiculous statement of Shaukat Tarin that the government has decided to withdraw the subsidy on petroleum, gas and electricity ahead of 30 days under an agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Muzaffar said that the government was playing a role of usurper, extorter and it was not only imposing up to 50 percent taxes on essential items but also earning profit on these commodities. He said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan should take notice of government action to ridicule the court's order of cutting down petroleum products by 20 percent but it reduced by only 2 percent.
They opposed the levy of tax on agriculture sector, describing it devastation for the country. They suggested that the government should pay premium or bonus to farmers for producing maximum crop to make the country self-sufficient in food. They said that 45 percent people had gone below the poverty level in Pakistan and now it was among the poorest states.
Rehmatullah said that the government was lavishly spending on foreign tours and it was running its business on foreign debts. The government borrowed Rs 58 billion from the State Bank in the last month and paid back a loan amounting to Rs 200 billion so far, he said. He asked why the government was spending Rs 200 billion every year to meet the loss being caused by public sector entities, including PIA, Railways and Steel Mills when these can be run on profit by downsizing the army of officers.
Passengers are paying more fare than international standards with insufficient facilities. He asked why the railway was running in profit in India and United Kingdom? Taj Muhammad Khan Langah, chief of Pakistan Seraiki Party, said that Seraikistan zone should be included in National Finance Commission and separate funds be allocated for this area.