The PDM government doesn\u2019t have the moral authority to take tough decisions: PTI chief
\n Lahore
\nSince the country\u2019s economic condition is in the doldrums, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday said \u2018tough decisions\u2019 should be taken by the new government that comes with a mandate.
\n\u201cWhichever new government comes with people\u2019s mandate should take tough decisions. This [PDM] government doesn\u2019t have the moral authority to take tough decisions,\u201d the PTI chief said while addressing the launch of PTI\u2019s white paper via video link.
\nThe deposed prime minister\u2019s comments come as a default risk looms over Pakistan, the rupee continues to depreciate against the US dollar, and forex reserves have plunged to record lows \u2014 covering merely a month\u2019s imports.
\nFinancial pundits, voicing concerns since the ouster of the previous government, say the country\u2019s financial side will remain vulnerable until there is political stability.
\nAs a result of the prevailing financial crisis, the federal government has decided to close markets\/malls by 8:30pm and save around Rs62 billion per annum \u2014 but traders have once again rejected the idea.
\nMeanwhile, the former premier lamented the country\u2019s economic state highlighting the increase in inflation.
\n\u201cPrices of flour, electricity, petroleum products and food items have all increased. Today, the country\u2019s industries are shutting down,\u201d Khan said, highlighting that the nation is afraid of seeing the country\u2019s direction.
\nHe claimed that around 750,000 Pakistanis had left the country in the last eight months. Khan also stressed the need for increasing the country\u2019s exports.
\n\u201cFor 30 to 40 years, we did not consider increasing exports. Pakistan won\u2019t be able to stand on its feet for as long as the exports don\u2019t increase. When I met exporters, they informed me about the obstacles,\u201d the PTI chairman revealed.
\nCircling back to his demand for elections in the country, the former prime minister said: \u201cThe economy is linked to politics. It cannot improve without political stability.\u201d
\nHe said that elections were the only solution to get the country out of the economic crisis.
\n\u201cThe election is necessary to end instability. No matter what initiative is being taken, the election is the only solution,\u201d the PTI chief said.
\nAdvising 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.
\n\u201cWhen 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,\u201d he added.
\nTalking about his government\u2019s 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.
\n\u201cWhen the growth rate statistics were presented before the court, the members weren\u2019t believing. It was the best performance in Pakistan\u2019s history,\u201d the ousted premier said, further claiming to have created 5,500,000 jobs in the country.
\nHe 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.
\nGlobally, Imran Khan said, the prices of edible oil and coal increased; however, his government still kept them low. \u201cWe developed the Ravi City plan to save Lahore in an attempt to bring investment from overseas Pakistanis. We tried to bring foreign investment to increase our servers,\u201d he shared during his address.
\nHighlighting the economic progress during his party\u2019s rule up until April last year, the ousted PM claimed that owners of textile industries spoke about not finding enough workers. He also alleged that his government was targeted with the propaganda that he (Imran Khan) was \u201cdestroying the country\u201d.
\nPakistan, according to the PTI chairman, should be managed like never before. \u201cMajor changes in the system of governance will have to be introduced in the country to improve its economy. Establishing the rule of law has become inevitable,\u201d he said, underlining how Pakistan is facing challenges of unemployment and inflation at present.
\n\u201cInvestors don\u2019t trust Pakistan\u2019s system of justice,\u201d the PTI chief claimed.
\nHe added that a fair and transparent election was the first step to finding solutions to all issues. \u201cA government with a mandate should arrive and take tough decisions because the imported government cannot. This government came to power through action not election,\u201d Khan alleged.
\nRecalling his discussions with former chief of army staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former prime minister said that he had become a \u2018jack of all trades\u2019.
\n\u201cGen Bajwa told us to fix the economy and forget accountability. He lectured us on giving NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance to political parties in the opposition] and focus on the economy,\u201d Khan claimed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The PDM government doesn\u2019t have the moral authority to take tough decisions: PTI chief Lahore Since the country\u2019s economic condition is in the doldrums, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday said \u2018tough decisions\u2019 should be taken by the new government that comes with a mandate. \u201cWhichever new government comes with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-305272","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n