LAHORE: Stressing the need for political stability to revive the sinking economy, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that robust institutions are indispensable to curb corruption, adding that ‘tough decisions’ will have to be taken by the new government that comes with a mandate.
Addressing a seminar via video link, the former premier expressed his concern over the current situation, saying that he feared the direction in which the country was going. He said that there was no example of what happened in the last eight months which forced over 700,000 people to leave the country.
Imran Khan reiterated that political stability was a must to revive the country’s ‘deteriorating’ economy, adding that ‘transparent and immediate’ elections were the only way out of the prevailing challenges.
“Whichever new government comes with people’s mandate should take tough decisions. This [PDM] government doesn’t have the moral authority to take tough decisions,” the PTI chief said.
He regretted that two political families – Sharifs and Zardaris – had plundered the country for 30 years. Mr Khan slammed the coalition government, saying those involved in activities such as money laundering were now teaching the country a lesson.
The former premier lamented the country’s economic state highlighting the increase in inflation.
“Prices of flour, electricity, petroleum products and food items have all increased. Today, the country’s industries are shutting down,” Khan said, highlighting that the nation is afraid of seeing the country’s direction.
He claimed that around 750,000 Pakistanis had left the country in the last eight months. Khan also stressed the need for increasing the country’s exports.
“For 30 to 40 years, we did not consider increasing exports. Pakistan won’t be able to stand on its feet for as long as the exports don’t increase. When I met exporters, they informed me about the obstacles,” the PTI chairman revealed.
Advising the ruling government in the Centre about its decisions regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Imran Khan said that approaching the IMF raises the issue of autonomy.
“When going to the IMF, one has to adhere to their orders. You cannot make your own decisions. Instead of going to the IMF, attention should be paid to exporters,” he added.
Referring to the economic survey, the former prime minister said that after 17 years, it was his government that delivered for the country with perfection.
Talking about his government’s performance in line with managing the economy, the PTI chairman said that the growth rate was 5.7% to 6% in his tenure and the statistics were presented in the cabinet.
“When the growth rate statistics were presented before the court, the members weren’t believing. It was the best performance in Pakistan’s history,” the ousted premier said, further claiming to have created 5,500,000 jobs in the country.
He also spoke about including taxpayers in the system in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and refraining from increasing the prices of petroleum products.
Speaking about the next government, Mr Khan stated that the successor to the incumbent government should have come to power through a mandate.
Mr Khan slammed the government once more, claiming that the incumbent government came to power by buying the people s conscience with money they [the government] plundered. He believed that the masses were against the coalition government.
He lamented that the government, which was showing great performance, was toppled and thieves were imposed on the country.
