Imran lashes out at govt for failing to curb inflation

E-Paper | October 17, 2026

Imran lashes out at govt for failing to curb inflation

Dawn.com Published December 22, 2013

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran khan has lashed out at the government, accusing it of begging from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and causing inflation in the country, DawnNews reported.

Speaking at a rally in Lahore, the PTI chairman said that in only six months, Rs500 billion in notes have been printed, which has affected the masses.

He also said that the anti-inflation "tsunami" will reach Karachi on January 6 and Rawalpindi on January 24.

Khan said that politicians who have businesses abroad should bring back their wealth, otherwise there will be no progress in this country, nor will there be any hope in tackling inflation.

He said that elites safeguarding their wealth and receiving tax breaks, were the main reasons as to why inflation has wracked the country.

Earlier on, while speaking to media persons outside his residence, prior to his departure to the rally venue in Lahore, Khan questioned about the number decisions taken by the parliament with regards to inflation.

Imran Khan was shown on TV flanked by senior PTI leaders Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Makhdoom Shah Mehmmod Qureshi, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid and Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan on a customised truck on way to join the rally.

He further said that staging of rallies was a requirement for addressing the issue and that he would announce his agenda to tackle the menace of rising prices.

Similarly a rally organised by the PTI was taken out in Quetta against the country's rising prices of basic commodities and necessities. A large number of women and children also participated in the protests.

The rally concluded at the Quetta Press Club after passing through various areas of the city. PTI provincial chief Qasim Suri addressed the attendees of the rally who were chanting slogans and expressing their hopes in PTI chief Imran Khan.

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Arslan Saeed

Dec 22, 2013 05:21pm

I hope such rallies can sort out the issues, and problems. However, I would love to take a short note on his nine-points agenda.

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Mir

Dec 22, 2013 08:58pm

Go Imran go. If you don't check this government they will sell Pakistan.

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Adnan

Dec 22, 2013 09:34pm

Someone please teach him a lesson on elementary economics. The guy is utterly clueless. I find it hard to believe he went to Oxford. Maybe he should start taking classes at whats that university of his called, namal i think.

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awan0004@emirates.net.ae

Dec 22, 2013 11:09pm

Salute to Syed Munawar Hassan and Shaikh Rasheed for a part of campaign against correction and inflation. God bless you all.

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Najma

Dec 22, 2013 11:37pm

Another display of political circus. Nothing is going to change. People get the government they deserve.

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zobia khan

Dec 23, 2013 07:15am

IK needs to get a reality check. He is the government, And instead of rallies he needs sit in assembly and make decisions on the future of the nation. But he chooses to be an outsider because in reality he has no plan. He can only complain, he is giving all the wrong reason for inflation. One of the major causes of Inflation is too much currency floating around in an economy and . Foreign remittances - Pakistan's biggest economic blessing is also its biggest headache: Since this income from abroad is not taxed it creates inflation. Why?? see below In a market economy the prices are set by the ability of the people to purchase a product. Since the days of mass production manufacturing costs have remained on the low side. The price of any given product will rise as long as the people keep buying it. If something is for $10 today but people are able to pay $12 for it then the price will rise to $12, even though the manufacturing cost has remained unchanged. Money from abroad creates an imbalance, those receiving it can afford to pay the higher prices causing inflation. Governments control inflation by leveling the playing field i.e taxing income. If we start taxing the remittances by 15% you will see an annual inflation drop of at least 5% points. Of course Imran does not understand this. How many politicians have businesses abroad??? 3 million? That's the number of Pakistanis abroad who send money home each month. The politicians having businesses abroad is a drop in the bucket.

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Dr Khan

Dec 23, 2013 10:13am

These rallies/protests are important to keep the goverment on its toes. Imran Khan and PTI will not act like the fiendly opposition of PML N when PPP was in power.

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Nadeem Chaudhry

Dec 23, 2013 02:35pm

Complain. Complain .Complain. Sounds like the Pakistani Drama Serial: Buddha Ghar Pe Hai! Mr. Khan stop wasting your time in rallies and get back to the work your party has been elected for.

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Waqar Khan

Dec 23, 2013 03:50pm

@Arslan Saeed: People of Pakistan is mistaken here...Imran Khan has no power in the KP either...his 9 points agenda was promised only had he won the election...PTI is a minority in KP as well...so hold your horses; Nawaz Sharif is doing his best, but you got to remember that it took over 8 years for US to turn around its economy and yet still have not solved the economical problem, even after spending trillions of dollar...Pakistan problem is not just the elite but also all the Pakistani, the rich or the poor....all corrupted! Only Allah can help that country.

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fatima

Dec 23, 2013 08:48pm

Well said Najma. No clean politician in Pakistan. They are good at taking revenge and filling their pockets. Hope new CJ and new Army Chief make some sense into these politicians.

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Khan

Dec 24, 2013 12:28am

Nawaz Sharif - Bring you stashed away money back to Pakistan and stop printing money - inflation will go away.

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Khan

Dec 24, 2013 01:30am

The life style of our politicians and elites and the amount of taxes they pay - Does it makes any sense?

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Adil Jadoon

Dec 24, 2013 04:02am

@zobia khan: Perhaps we should tax the Sharif's billions first. What ridiculous idea you have. People who send these remittances are not residing in Pakistan. How can you tax a non-resident????? Tax the agriculture industry first, tax those who donot pay taxes and believe me there are billions of them out htere.

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Ali

Dec 24, 2013 04:49am

IK is leaving things incomplete and moving on to the next problem.He should finalize the drone problem and bring it to its logical end and then move on to the problem of inflation.

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pathanoo

Dec 24, 2013 08:22am

Why isn't Imran Khan fighting against inflation in the parliament with his proposals how to curb it. Marches are well and good but he as a parlimentarian has the real power to do some thing about it in the parliament where it would make a real impact. Unless ofcourse he is more interested in publicity and being on the TV.

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Faz

Dec 24, 2013 01:53pm

@Waqar Khan: Oh please! Don't compare US economy to Pakistani economy.

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Gulnaz

Dec 24, 2013 04:10pm

Say stop to further loans from IMF: welcome PTI

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Khalid

Dec 24, 2013 07:27pm

I just can not stand jamat-e-islami hand in hand with Imran Khan. What is going on?

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Juke

Dec 24, 2013 08:37pm

Ordinary people pay more taxes than our politicians? People should question this every chance they get and shame our politicians.

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Ayesha Khan

Dec 24, 2013 11:28pm

Imran Khan doesn't have a magic wand in his hands, but at least he is doing something for the good of this country, But it seems that even if the angels descends from the sky they would not be able to please the people of this nation. Ungratefulness has become their second nature ---or perhaps the first one.

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memon

Dec 25, 2013 09:50pm

You can't do it alone. Join forces with other non-corrupt politicians - although very difficult to find. How about Tahir Qadri and Musharaf?

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