GUJRANWALA: Federal Minis­ter for Energy Khurram Dastgir has said former premier Imran Khan made a horrifying agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2019, and then violated it in an appalling manner, forcing the incumbent coalition government to set aside a huge amount of Rs7,000 billion for payment of foreign loans.

Addressing a press briefing at Gujranwala Electric Power Company’s headquarters on Saturday, the minister said: “Had the PTI chairman not signed such agreements and acquired loans, the repayment amount would have been restricted to Rs3,000 billion, instead of Rs7,000 billion.”

He regretted China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project had been paralysed during the Imran government that inflicted huge losses on the nation. Work on Thar coal project was also halted, he claimed, adding that cheaper electricity could have been generated if work on the project had not been stopped. He said a big chunk of amount was repaid in the budget during the tenure of PTI government.

Claims that 14 months on, friendly countries still not ready to trust the govt

Mr Dastgir said Mr Khan spoiled relations with China, Turkiye, the US and Saudi Arabia. Even after the passage of 14 months, the friendly countries were not ready to trust the Pakistan government, he complained.

The energy minister said it was the coalition government that restarted work on the CPEC.

About elections, he said that decision on elections would be made by the ruling coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as per the constitution.

He highlighted that in the budget, an amount had been set aside for elections.

The minister asserted that the tenure of National Assembly would complete on Aug 12. And if the assembly would be dissolved automatically on completion of its tenure, elections would be held within next 60 days, he added. But if the prime minister would dissolve the assembly a day before its tenure completion, the elections would be held within next 90 days, he elaborated citing laws in this regard. However, he added, it was being planned till date that election should be held on November 10.

Mr Dastgir said the government would provide Rs68 billion to farmers of Balochistan for installation of tube-wells. Similarly, Rs70 billion would be allocated for electricity consumers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir this year, while a relief of Rs80 billion would be given the next year. He said a relief package of Rs39 billion would be given to the people of erstwhile federally administered tribal areas.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2023