ISLAMABAD: An old video clip of Pakistan’s economist and former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Shabbar Zaidi, in which he appears to argue that Pakistan should end its trade ties with China, is being reshared on social media, creating a misleading impression that the remarks are recent.
The video clip has recently resurfaced on social media, with posts presenting Zaidi’s comments without the original context or date. Recent posts on social media have attributed the statement, “End trade relations with China and your economy will recover,” to Zaidi.
Fact check: Old clip, not a recent statement
However, independent fact-checking found that the video is not a recent recording. Zaidi has previously spoken about Pakistan’s economic relationship with China, CPEC and the country’s trade structure.
A 2023 discussion featuring the former FBR chairman also covered CPEC, China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan’s economic dependence, demonstrating that his controversial views on the subject predate the clip’s current circulation on social media.
Zaidi served as chairman of the FBR from May 2019 until 2020, and therefore references to him in the resurfaced video as a former FBR chairman are consistent with his past public role rather than indicating a recent government position.
Pakistan-China ties remain strong
Pakistan and China maintain longstanding diplomatic, economic and strategic relations, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, education and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
An International Crisis Group assessment has also documented the extensive economic and strategic dimensions of the China-Pakistan relationship and CPEC.
The video being circulated is old and is being reshared with false context.
