Opp blasts govt over record inflation
Kh Asif says economy has shrunk from $230b to $189b amid increasing inflation
Bilawal highlights discrepancy in inflation rate, says PTI has run ‘floundering’ economy into the ground
Statesman Report
ISLAMABAD: The opposition lawmakers and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday engaged in a heated debate over ever-rising inflation that touched 14.6 per cent earlier this month.
Taking the floor, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif said the government failed to tackle inflation. The corruption has also increased manifold during the PTI government, he added.
He also blasted the senior ministers for their absence from the NA session, saying: “The people of Pakistan are suffering, but look at the seriousness of government officials, the very people who “enjoy the trappings of power” are absent.
“The country’s current rulers have made the country a ‘shelter’ for those involved in the wheat and sugar shortage. Those benefiting the most from the current situation are within the government or are associated with them in some manner.”
“Are the current prices [of any item] within the reach of citizens,” he questioned, adding that the country’s economy has shrunk from $230 billion to $189 billion.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticised the government, saying it ran a “floundering economy” into the ground. Unemployment and poverty [in the country] existed before this government but they have increased since the PTI took to power. These are the facts,” he said.
“According to the Bureau of Statistics, inflation during the past 18 months surpassed that recorded during the past 10 years. Food inflation, from 1.5 per cent in 2019, has reached 25pc.”
Listing the increase in the prices of essential commodities, the PPP leader highlighted the discrepancy in the general inflation rate and that faced by the general rural population.
On top of all this, the government has increased gas prices by 55pc, motor fuel by 76pc, and electricity charges by 14pc, said Bilawal, adding: “We are answerable to the people, and the people are asking whether we should feed our children or pay our electricity and gas bills.”