Imran slams government’s economic policies

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had failed to increase the collection of direct taxation and was increasing the burden on the poor and middle classes with indirect taxation, particularly on petroleum products.
He questioned the government’s economic and financial policies, which were benefiting a small coterie of supporters while causing havoc with the lives of ordinary citizens. The PTI chairman expressed these views in a press statement that was issued on Wednesday.
Imran stated categorically that there was absolutely no need for the latest increase in petrol and diesel prices.Imran pointed out that when the international oil price had fallen by 25% in the first four months of this fiscal year, the government had only passed on a relief of less than 4% in diesel prices which meant that the benefit of more than 20% drop in oil prices had been pocketed by the government.
He said that this injustice towards the citizens, farmers and businesses, all of whom were already struggling in adverse economic conditions, had now been further aggravated with the increase in petrol and diesel prices.
He added what should be happening is for consumers and private investors to get loans so that economic activity could be encouraged in Pakistan, but these banks had effectively become lenders almost solely to the government.
Imran also accused the government of repeatedly making a mockery of democracy by refusing to place before the houses of parliament the LNG deal figures while holding grandiose seminars on the subject amounting to naught. “Why is the government so hesitant to take elected representatives into confidence?” Khan asked.
Imran also drew attention to the complete economic fiasco in the state-run enterprises where not only entities like PIA and PSM are being allowed to spiral on a downward fast track, but enterprises like the Sui Northern and Sui Southern are suffering increasing UFG (unaccounted for gas/stolen gas) losses to the tune of 11%. This has led to over Rs53 bn in lost revenues.