ISLAMABAD: In his maiden address to the nation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced an Rs.28 billion relief package per month under which 14 million poor families will get Rs2,000 monthly and the package will be included in the next budget.
The PM clarified that the stipend will be other than the stipend underprivileged families receive under Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
He said that his government is ready to take tough decisions as it has embraced the challenge of fixing the cripple economy.
PM Shehbaz said the flour price at utility stores has been set at Rs 400 per kilogram.
He said that assuming the key post at a time when the economy has been devastated by the previous government during the last four years is a difficult test.
However, the premier said it was an honor for him to take the charge mandated to him by the people through their representatives.
He said the economic mess left by the previous government was unprecedented, but they embraced the challenge to fix the economy.
He rebuffed that there was any conspiracy against Imran Khan’s government, adding that the National Security Council (NSC) and Pakistan’s ambassador to the US also endorsed it twice.
He said Pakistan will run according to the Constitution, not by the stubbornness of Imran Khan.
The premier said Imran Khan also staged a sit-in in Islamabad in 2014 when the Chinese president was to visit the country.
PM Shehbaz blamed the PTI government for inflation, and record corruption in the country and said the deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) was also signed by the previous government.
He said the PTI government was responsible for the crippling economy, adding that they inherited huge inflation on coming into power. He added that the debts during the PTI’s tenure rose to a record level and vowed that the incumbent government is ready to take tough decisions.
Criticizing the former, PTI-led government and ex-prime minister Imran Khan, PM Shehbaz said that “it was the demand of the people of Pakistan to rid them of the previous incompetent and corrupt government.”
PM Shehbaz said a diplomatic cable was used for political means and the nation was fed with lies despite the National Security Committee (NSC) and the ambassador to the United States both rubbishing the “foreign conspiracy” claims touted by ex-premier Imran Khan.
PM Shehbaz said if Khan thinks his “ego” is bigger than the state, then it is his misconception as Pakistan will function in line with the Constitution and not upon following the direction of one person.
The premier stressed that the incumbent government was responsible for the nation’s safety and security and would not compromise in this regard at any cost.
Reminding the PTI government of its tenure, PM Shehbaz said it was Khan that struck a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), not the current government.
“We did not agree to the strict conditions laid forth by the IMF; you burdened the masses with heavy inflation, not us; you buried the country under heavy debts, not us; international institutions said that corruption increased during your tenure, not ours; electricity load shedding was brought back during your tenure and you are responsible for the economy’s suffering,” he said.
He said that over the last four years, Pakistan incurred more than $20,000 billion worth of debt.
He added that when the new government came into power, inflation was skyrocketing, industries were shutting down, and the US dollar — which was at Rs115 — had reached Rs189.
The premier added that in contrast, the PML-N government took fewer loans and provided 10,400MW of electricity, constructed roads, introduced a state-of-the-art public transport system, and initiated several development projects.
He said due to the previous government’s policies, powerplants that generated 7,500MW of electricity were shut down, and as a result, people were forced to buy the PM said that his government’s move to increase fuel prices was necessary to avoid Pakistan from facing bankruptcy.
