Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the value of rupee has depreciated to the lowest point in history.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan doesn’t believe he is in power even after passing of 100 days,” the senior PML-N leader said while criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s performance. He said in the previous government’s tenure, the fiscal policies were widely appreciated.
Addressing a press conference after the US dollar hit an all-time high of Rs 144 in the interbank market, Abbasi said the value of rupee depreciated after the prime minister’s address on Thursday. He said nothing was said about the tax evaders, adding that those who don’t pay taxes weaken the system.
Speaking about the money laundering allegations, Abbasi said the government has so far failed to provide any proof. “The government should adopt the fiscal reforms introduced by Miftah Ismail to stop money laundering and theft,” he said. The former prime minister said the way inflation has increased recently was not witnessed in the past, adding, “Due to dollar rate hike, the loans on Pakistan have increased by Rs 600 billion.”
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the prime minister had claimed that he would end corruption within 90 days. “However, despite passing of 100 days, he hasn’t even learnt the rules of business,” he added.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said the latest hike in the dollar proves that the government has agreed to the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “The government has reached an agreement with the IMF and is lying to the nation. The public should be told under which conditions the agreement has been made,” she demanded. Criticising Finance Minister Asad Umar’s comments during a ceremony to mark PTI’s 100 days in power, she said, “Asad Umar lied and deceived the nation. The dishonest and fake government has robbed the nation overnight.”
She expressed concerns that the latest depreciation of the rupee would lead to an even worse price hike. “Imran-led government should resign over its lies and fraud,” she said. “It has been proven that running a government and solving problems of the nation is not under their [PTI] control. Time and circumstances are telling us that this ‘chicken and egg’ government cannot run the country,” she added.
Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.
