This refers to the news report ‘Govt to impose ban on imported cars for six months’ (December 1). Recent trends indicate that the economy is on the brink of a crisis. In November, the trade deficit was $5.11 billion, the highest for any month till date. However, in November 2020, the deficit had been $1.95 billion. Should the adverse trends continue, the country’s merchandise import bill could reach $ 85-90 billion for the full year as against $ 56 billion in 2020-21.
Despite these alarming trends, austerity has been abandoned. The belated decision to ban import of cars from January 2022 for merely six months is insufficient to remedy the problem. The economy is spinning out of control and there is no coherent recovery plan. Recently, the Turkish prime minister sacked his finance minister following the crash of its currency, Lira, while the head of its Central Bank was removed before that. Our prime minister should take a cue from Turkey’s example.
Arif Majeed
Karachi
The substantial increase in used car imports witnessed in the first quarter of this year is alarming. This significant...
It is against the national interest to cast aspersions, which cannot be substantiated, about foreign countries with...
Will Pakistan always require the heavy hand of the IMF to boost its economy? The conditions of the multilateral lender...
Much has been said about overpopulation and the need for the country to control its rapidly growing population. I...
The Punjab chief minister's initiative to provide e-bikes to students seems like a very unnecessary proposal. Back in...
This refers to the news report ‘FBR mulling options to penalize unregistered traders’ . While the imposition of an...