Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has described Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's (PTI) 'white paper' on government economic performance as a bundle of lies. Addressing a news conference on Wednesday in response to the PTI's 'white paper' that the present government's performance during the last one year was worse than Pakistan People's Party's, Dar said that PTI Chief Imran Khan's sole purpose to challenge government's economic performance was to confuse the nation.
The Minister said he would have been very happy if economic indicators for the whole year were presented by the PTI Khan. The Minister added that Rs 500 billion have been earmarked in the budget for provision of credit to farmers. He added that crop insurance scheme has also been announced for agriculture sector. Dar also dismissed the PTI assertion that the budget for the current fiscal year is pro-rich, saying that it is pro-poor as allocation for Benazir Income Support Programme has been increased to Rs 118 billion to provide assistance to 5.3 million families.
The Finance Minister said that GDP growth was 4.14 per cent and not 3.5 per cent, which he claimed was accepted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). He said the Supreme Court has also expressed satisfaction on the auction for 3G/4G spectrum. Dar clarified that exact number of foreign trips of Prime Minister was 15. According to him, government's austerity measures have helped reduce the fiscal deficit. The Finance Minister also claimed that appointments of heads in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being made in accordance with the law. Imran Khan's demand of Prime Minister's resignation was unconstitutional and unlawful, which cannot be fulfilled, the Finance Minister said and added that inflation was on the higher side during the last fiscal year as compared to corresponding year largely because of the caretaker government's decision not to increase the electricity price and a low tax collection. He said that Rs 104 billion SROs granting exemptions have been withdrawn, but added that it is not possible to withdraw every SRO because some of them have been issued to provide exemption to essential commodities and charity hospitals. Dar claimed that the power sector recoveries have been improved which in turn will reduce the circular debt to Rs 244 billion from Rs 295 billion and settlement of Rs 480 billion circular debt helped in adding 1700 MW electricity to the national grid. The Minister added that a Rs 2300 billion subsidy was given to the power sector during the last six year. Dar said there is no truth in allegation that UNBL shares were sold at a low price.
He said sanity should prevail and the current political turmoil must come to an end. He said the Prime Minister's proposal should be accepted. According to him, let the judicial commission investigate the election rigging allegations. He said for next elections, all parties need to focus on introducing electoral reforms to make election process more credible.
Replying to a question, Dar said the Prime Minister had received an offer through a political party for a vote recount in ten constituencies to allow PTI to rollback its plan of agitation, and the Prime Minister responded positively after his consultation with political parties. Flanked by Minister for Information, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Chairman Privatisation Commission and Acting Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as well as Chief Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, he said that the government is ready for electoral reforms and a process has already been initiated with formation of a 33-member committee of both the Houses and proposals on electoral reforms have been solicited from members and public by September 1, 2014. The Finance Minister said that prevailing political uncertainty has caused a Rs 300 billion loss to the stock market and the government has accepted PTI chief's demand by constituting a judicial commission to probe election rigging allegations.
In reply to a question, Finance Minister said he would participate in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if required, as he was constantly in touch with Pakistani and the IMF delegation at Dubai through a video link. He said the Fund delegation would visit Islamabad subject to security clearance. Dar also spoke about the allegations of rigging as well as PTI demand of a vote recount in 10 constituencies and feedback received by him about result of election as party's Election Cell Chairman in the evening on the polling day.
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