Opp lambastes govt over massive price hike, terms ministers incompetent

Criticising poor economic situation and price hike, opposition legislators in National Assembly claimed that the PTI led federal government totally failed to serve the masses and demanded fresh election, which according to them was the only solution of the matter. The PTI ministers were incompetent, non-serious, and only blamed the opposition particularly the PML-N and PPP were responsible for poor economic situation of the country. They even said if both the parties did mistakes, what the current government was doing, they questioned. Like previous day, the House today again witnessed a scuffled between the PPP and PTI legislators when the PTI later MNA Alia Hamza speech in which she again referred some statement of foreign media over “Mr 10 percent,” The PPP legislators strongly reacted and loudly shouted against the government. As a result, the Speaker has no option but to adjourn the house till Thursday. Earlier, legislators in Lower House of Parliament adopted a resolution unanimously praising the efforts launched from the Chinese authorities to tackle novel coronavirus that has claimed over 1000 lives in the neighbouring country. The resolution was tabled by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khawaja Asif. The resolution reads that the Pakistani government and masses stand alongside the Chinese government and public in the testing times. “We fully support the efforts from the Chinese president to control the coronavirus and the entire Pakistani nation remains committed to lending any sort of help in this regard,” it said. The resolution also expressed its gratitude towards the Chinese government for supporting Pakistani students and other citizens stranded in the virus-hit neighbouring country. Taking part in debate over price hike, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal said that despite eighteen months having passed since the government took power, the finance adviser was still clueless about solving economic problems of the country. “This government is looting the country with both hands. There is record poverty, joblessness in the country today,” the former planning minister said today. Iqbal made the remarks a day after Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh defended the financial policies of the incumbent government in the lower house, saying that the economy and exchange rate was stabilising as a result of tough decisions. “I also want to go to the Pakistan whose rosy picture was painted by the finance adviser yesterday. The Pakistan where there is no inflation, where there are jobs, and where rivers of milk and honey are flowing,” the former minister added in clearly sarcastic undertones. “This government has started working on revenge agenda. Small and big investors are all taking their money out of Pakistan. Talented people are also moving out of the country. There is a critical crisis of confidence in Pakistan today,” the former minister told the lower house. He said inflation rate has surged by 14 percent in the country and the economic crisis is a result of the government’s incompetence. “Inflation has broken all previous records and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has admitted it herself. The ineligibility of the incumbent regime has damaged Pakistan in 18 months. Only solution of economic crises was that the government step down and hold fresh election, he demanded. Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtyar Thursday invited the Opposition to work out a charter of economy, outlining a reform package for revival of agriculture, industry, tax collection, banking and energy sectors in the country. The minister said the government was facing economic challenges including rising inflation and stagnant exports. He said when the government came into power, the foreign exchange reserves were at $ 8 billion and the current account deficit was at $ 19 billion. The debt had risen to 78 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), he added. He said on the one side, Pakistan had the challenge of rising population and on the other its per acre yield was low. The government had devised export-oriented policies to increase exports, he said adding prices of agricultural products were dependent on demand and supply and the government was taking initiatives to keep prices low. PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said at present Pakistan had the lowest economic growth rate in the region. He said poor people were badly affected due to worsening economic conditions. Taking part in the debate, the JUI-F leader Asad Mehmood said the opposition already rejected the budget. He also said that Advisor on Finance yesterday speak on behalf of IMF not on behalf of Pakistan. He demanded fresh election, which according to him was the only solution. Speaking on a calling attention notice moved by Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali regarding load shedding in Chitral, Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub said funds have been released for Chitral to meet electricity shortfall in the area. He said work is underway to deal with the issue. The Chair announced that the joint sitting of the House will be held tomorrow at 11 in the morning while the session of the National Assembly has been adjourned to meet again tomorrow at 2 pm.