Pakistan Peoples Party does not want the Parliament to endorse the decision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package due to widening current account deficit, which has already created a serious balance of payment crisis. Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Dr Nafisa Shah Wednesday said this at a joint news conference along with Secretary Information PPP Maula Bux Chandio.
"There is an economic crisis looming in the country. Yet the indecisiveness of the PTI government is visible, as they have no clue on meeting the current account deficit of $9 billion. The finance minister wants the Parliament to tell him to go to the IMF. Surely the Parliament can debate on a certain issue. But why should the Parliament take responsibility for a decision that has to be taken by the governments? Why should the Parliament take the blame for a u-turn that is on the cards," Dr Nafisa pointed out.
She said that it is purely the government's decision to approach the IMF. In the previous tenures, the PPP and PML-N governments took decisions to approach the IMF but they did take approval from the Parliament.
Dr Nafisa said that the stock market is wavering because there is no clarity on what the government would do on the economic front. She said, "The only Naya (new) thing in Naya Pakistan is Naya bill. We condemn the increase in electricity bills by Rs 2 per unit and 46 percent increase in gas bill as well as an increase in fertilizer rates, toll tax rates and ID card fee," she added.
About energy situation, the PPP leader said that the PTI government has yet to give even a hint of what it would do with a circular debt of Rs 1.18 trillion. "We have not heard one word on the most acute problem facing this country - loadshedding," she maintained.
About the budget, Dr Nafisa said that the opposition has rejected the previous government's budget. But the new finance minister has not informed them whether he will present a new budget or follow the old one, she explained. While speaking about public sector enterprises, she said what the government's intentions are for the Pakistan Steel Mills whose employees have been suffering for the past five years due to irregular salaries, no work, and no health and other allowances.
"What are the government's intentions for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), whose staff also suffered under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) poor governance? So far the Supreme Court seems more decisive on the PIA than the government," she said.
About the Utility Stores Corporation, Nafisa Shah strongly condemned the PTI government for suspending supplies to it, adding that in PPP's government, the Utility Stories registered profits every year and food subsidies helped meet the nutrition needs of the poorest of the poor.
Today if the malnutrition problem of women and children of this country is to be resolved, the Utility Stores can play an effective role in food subsidies to the poorest of the poor, she added. She said that the PTI propaganda wing used to call their opponents 'patwaris' (revenue department officials). Today at least two DCs have complained against PTI's members of National Assembly for forcing them to post their favorite patwaris, and one DPO was transferred under the pressure from the first family, she alleged.
She said that a grade-21 officer has been appointed as the principal secretary to the prime minister. He will be giving directions to grade-22 officers, she pointed out. Dr Nafisa said that a DMG officer has been appointed as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman when the seniors in their own service structures deserve and qualify technically.
Chandio said that 20 days of PTI government have been passed while 80 days are remaining to complete the first 100 days. He said that in the first 20 days of PTI government, "we came know that there was no preparation." In Naya Pakistan there is total uncertainty, indecisiveness, lack of respect for law and a total lack of direction, he alleged.
He said that on the completion of first 20 days, "we know how many cars the government will sell, how many international phone calls it missed up, how many helicopter rides took the Prime Minister to Banigala, but we are waiting for hearing from the government on how it will resolve the major economic and political challenges of the country. Answering a question, he admitted that the PPP supported the PTI for the sake of democracy. In the past, "we also supported the PML-N government when the Parliament was in danger," he added.
Comments
Comments are closed.