Shahid Khaqan calls for special panel on flour, sugar crisis

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while speaking on floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday alleged that the same mafia which was bearing expenses of the Prime Minister created flour and sugar crisis in the country.

Abbasi while taking part in debate on country’s economic condition demanded of the deputy Speaker Qasim Surri who was chairing proceedings to pick up courage and constitute a special committee on flour and sugar crisis. “I call upon you to pick up courage and form a special committee and tell the Prime Minister that Rs60 billion dacoity since January 1 has been committed on pockets of people,” he said.

He said he could only express sympathies with the Adviser on Finance and the people if he himself was ready to believe in statistics just presented by himself. “There is no truth and reality in figures presented by him,” he said.

He challenged that the people of the country will be getting no relief in future adding debt burden on the country would be doubled if the incumbent government completes its five years tenure.

Abbasi questioned as to why country’s affairs were not running properly when there is talented and patriotic federal cabinet at the helm of affairs.

He said every minister wanted to do work of the other minister saying the Minister for Human Rights is expert in foreign affairs while the Foreign Minister speaks on issues of commerce and economy. “There is team of educated and uneducated economic experts,” he said. He said the federal cabinet had done nothing except from imposing ban on shopping bags in Islamabad. “I want to congratulate the Minister for Climate Change for this performance,” he said.

The PML-N leader said the people should know as to which mafia was active in drawing Rs2 billion as additional amounts daily from their pockets. “It was duty of the House to find out reasons for crisis and just praising Moody’s reports and IMF will not serve the purpose,” he said.

The former Prime Minister said the Adviser on Finance had presented such economic figures which were not in knowledge of the people but he did not talk about the actual crisis of flour and sugar. “Should we ask people in our constituencies to read Moody’s reports, eat primary circular and wait foreign tourists to come to Pakistan,” he said.

He said the government would have no answer to the questions as to why country’s loan increased by Rs1200 billion in 18 months after payment of Rs500 billion. “Will the government tell as to why prices of flour and sugar increased from Rs40 and Rs53 and Rs70 and Rs80 respectively,” he said.

Abbasi while pointing out that there was economic meltdown in the country said the rulers would find no place to escape when people come out on roads. “The facts are very bitter as country’s economy has been destroyed and people are spending miserable lives,” he said.

Towards end of this speech, the former Prime Minister advised the ministers to read book titled ‘Animals Farm’ authored by George Orwell. “Animal Farm is reality of this country,” he said. Abbasi said he was ready to provide 200 copies of the novel for free distribution.