JHANG, April 20: Former federal minister Syeda Abida Husain has criticised president Pervez Musharraf’s economic policy which, she says, has impoverished the agriculture sector and people associated with it.

At least 70 per cent of the country’s population is associated with the agriculture sector and contributes one-third of the total benefits to the economy.

In a written statement issued to the media on Thursday, she lashed the president for directing the governor and State Bank of Pakistan to take measures to cut poverty in the country.

She said the president should understand that impoverishment of the agriculture sector had led to an increase in rural poverty during his seven years in power. The poor farmers of Pakistan, who are contributing substantially to the economy of the country, are being dragged into poverty by Musharraf’s bankers.

The former ambassador said the price of wheat had fallen by Rs50 per maund below the support price announced by the government.