PPP seeks details of deal with IMF

Published June 9, 2021
PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi addresses a press conference on Tuesday. MNA Shazia Marri is also seen. — INP
PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi addresses a press conference on Tuesday. MNA Shazia Marri is also seen. — INP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians Secretary Information Shazia Atta Marri on Tuesday demanded that the government should bring its deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to parliament so people of the country would know how much it has borrowed and on what terms and conditions.

Addressing a press conference along with PPP Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi, Ms Marri said the government was presenting a budget prepared and approved by the IMF.

“The PPP will discuss the budget tomorrow with all relevant documents. We will give proposals on the budget to the government on behalf of the people of Pakistan,” she said.

“Inflation and unemployment are on the rise in the country. Circular debt will increase further. We ask the government to bring the IMF deal to parliament. Imran Khan should tell how much a Pakistani child is in debt today,” she said.

“The budget has been prepared in closed rooms. Inflation and corruption have increased in the country. The prime minister gives relief and a clean chit to his friends and cronies in corruption cases,” she said.

Ms Marri said: “The prime minister is constantly borrowing from the IMF and the constitution is being violated.”She said there was no growth rate but the government was boasting of a four per cent growth which was totally wrong.

The government is in a dilemma. Prices of petroleum products are rising, she said.

Ms Marri said no one knows what the growth rate is but financial experts are saying that it is way less than 4pc which the government is claiming.

According to sources, every child in the country is under Rs1,75,000 in debt, she added.

Faisal Karim Kundi said: “PPP rejects the Foreign Office briefing on Afghanistan. Law and order situation in tribal areas is deteriorating. Sindh is not being given its due share of water.”

He said tobacco is a crop of KP but taxes are collected by the federal government.

Why prices of groceries have not come down despite bumper crops in the country, Mr Kundi asked.

There are corruption scandals of the government and the most recent one is the Rawalpindi Ring Road scam. He said there was no legal status of the committee formed to conduct an inquiry against Jehangir Tareen.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2021

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.