ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the federal government had accepted all the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that IMF has tied the government’s hands and feet. He also blamed Imran Khan-led previous government for the current inflation.
In a parliamentary meeting on Monday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the government had accepted the conditions set by the previous administration and was discussing the final conditions with the IMF. Sharif further blamed the ousted Imran-led government for the inflation that the country is currently facing, which he referred to as an “economic quagmire.”
PM Shehbaz accuses PTI for inflation
According to Sharif, the inflation was a result of the IMF program that the previous government had agreed upon. He accused Imran Khan of signing the IMF program on strict conditions and then violating the program and suspending it. Sharif accused Khan of conspiring to ruin the fund’s program and encouraging the chief ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to deny signing the IMF deal.
Sharif praised friendly nations for helping Pakistan during its tough times and stated that the fiscal crisis in the country was multi-dimensional. He denied rumours that the government had any trade relations with Israel and said that Pakistan would stick to its firm stance until Palestinians get their rights.
The PM also criticised the state of the country’s economy over the time that the PTI was in government. He said everything had become more expensive, the rupee had depreciated drastically, the IMF agreement was broken, and projects of CPEC were hindered. He slammed Imran Khan for making “serious allegations” against PDM government and countries that were helping Pakistan in trying times.
Sharif further accused the deposed prime minister of “putting the country’s reputation at stake” and destroying the country’s relations with other countries. During the meeting, he pledged to bring the country out of its different crises under the guidance of party leader Nawaz Sharif.
