ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter on Monday to express his views on the economic understanding and politics of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
PM Shehbaz criticized Imran for his limited comprehension of the economy and accused him of conveniently ignoring his own role in worsening economic challenges.
In a series of tweets, PM Shehbaz stated, “Looks like Imran Niazi’s understanding of the economy and the broader environment in which it operates is quite limited. He also conveniently forgets his own role in deepening economic challenges. From scrapping the IMF deal, he has always wished Pakistan to default.”
Looks like Imran Niazi's understanding of the economy and the broader environment in which it operates is quite limited. He also conveniently forgets his own role in deepening economic challenges. From scrapping the IMF deal, he has always wished Pakistan to default. This is in…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 29, 2023
PM Shehbaz further criticized Imran’s politics of continuous agitation, long marches, and sit-ins, attributing it to causing political instability and negatively impacting the economy. He claimed that even Pakistani investors hesitate to invest in such an unstable environment created by Imran Khan.
Referring to the events of May 9, the prime minister highlighted the economic repercussions, stating, “The terrible events of May 9 alone have cost the economy billions of rupees and are an irrefutable endorsement of his nefarious designs. This is not to mention the plethora of corruption cases he is involved in.”
PM Shehbaz Acknowledges Pakistan’s Economic Challenges
However, PM Shehbaz acknowledged that Pakistan faces economic challenges but assured that the doomsday scenario is now in the past. He mentioned sincere efforts being made to address these challenges through economic belt-tightening and timely policy interventions.
The prime minister emphasized the need to reduce dependence on imports, combat inflation, and prioritize exports, investment, and productivity as the driving forces of the economy.
“We are also working with friends and partners to bridge the financing gaps where needed. The real challenge for us is to reduce our dependence on imports and bring down inflation, which is possible when we make exports, investment, and productivity the engine of the economy. This is where our efforts are headed,” PM Shehbaz concluded.
