ISLAMABAD
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said here on Friday that there was no chance of default despite the fact that the country was passing through precarious situation.
“Pakistan has not defaulted nor would it default. Yes we were at precarious position and we are passing through it,” the federal minister said while addressing a press conference here.
He said, although the reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) depleted to $2.8 billion, the national reserves were still at $ 9 billion.
He said, it was strange that Imran Khan has been talking about default of and on despite the fact that he himself was responsible for bringing the economy to this position during his 42 months government. It was his finance minister who talked to provincial finance minister advising them not to cooperate with federal government and let not the issue with International Monetary Fund (IMF) resolved.
He said, when the incumbent government took over, it was left with options either to save politics or the country, and it had chosen second one, which was an appreciable decision. He said, in other parts of the world when any country faces issue of national interest, the opposition joins hands with government to resolve it, however the situation is reverse in Pakistan.
He said, instead of joining hands to think about how to steer through the crisis, Imran Khan only knows how to criticize the government and inflict losses on country. He said when Imran Khan speaks negatively, it is noted worldwide and have impact on markets.
Dar further said that former premier Imran Khan has problems not only in his leg but in his brain too as he talked about dropping an atomic bomb on the country.
The federal finance minister also claimed that these people [Imran Khan and his team] made a conspiracy to stop the sitting government’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and there is a record of how these people did it.
In addition, he said Imran Khan left the fiscal deficit at 7.9 per cent while the financial deficit was 19.3 billion dollars in his regime. He added that during Imran Khan’s tenure, the GDP growth came to 3.5 per cent while those who brought and protected Imran Khan are also admitting their mistake now. The minister said Imran Khan even said that the country will break up.
Ishaq Dar accepted that last year [2022], food prices rose by 14.3 per cent while mismanagement also caused problems in the country. Anyhow, he said his government need 16 billion dollars for flood victims as Pakistan is importing wheat, pulses and other things due to the flood.
It is pertinent to mention here that on Thursday, Mr Dar lambasted PTI Chairman Imran Khan, saying the latter was responsible for economic woes. Taking to Twitter, Mr Dar lashed out at the deposed premier, saying, “Only Imran Khan had dragged the country to the quagmire.
” Continuing to berate Mr Khan, Mr Dar said, “Thanks be to Allah Almighty that the country got rid of Imran Khan.” Claiming that the government was trying its all-out efforts to undo the incompetence of Mr Khan, Mr Dar vowed to announce good news for the masses soon in connection with the country’s economy.
