ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership is misleading the common people by pursing a narrative which has nothing to do with reality. Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, the minister claimed that Nawaz Sharif has driven the opposition's politics "into a blind alley".
He said the previous PML-N government signed expensive energy agreements with foreign companies, resulting in costly prices of electricity and gas. He said the previous government ruined country's economy to create hurdles in the way of the next government.
The minister said, "We inherited current account deficit of $20 billion and a debt of Rs 30 trillion while Rs 2.9 trillion were reserved in the budget to just pay interest of the loans taken by the previous regimes. The PML-N government had wasted $ 23 billion to artificially control dollar's value." The minister also claimed that the exports were zero, while imports were encouraged, which resulted in de-industrialization in the country. He said that now due to strenuous efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan, foreign exchange reserves have reached to $19 billion and current account deficit reduced from $20 billion to a positive territory of $80 million.
Shibli Faraz said the exports and remittances are on the upward trajectory and our foreign exchange reserves are now in a comfortable zone. He said we have collected around Rs 1 trillion tax during this quarter, which is above the target.
About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister said the opposition should refrain from harming the fraternal ties between the two countries (Pakistan and China) by doing politics on CPEC projects. He said the PTI government is committed to complete development projects under CPEC at the earliest.
Shibli Faraz said these rejected politicians are running a campaign to malign country's institutions, especially armed forces and the judiciary. He said they are blackmailing the government and state institutions to get relief in corruption cases against them. He said that the PTI government would not bow before opposition's pressure tactics and would not give any kind of leniency or NRO. He said the government will go for by-elections if opposition tenders resignations from the parliament.
Highlighting government's efforts in raising Kashmir issue on world forums, the minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan vociferously took up this issue on all global platforms, including the United Nations and human rights organizations.
Answering a question, he said that the government is taking serious measures to control inflation and provide essential items to the people at affordable rates.
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