Brig. (retd) Aslam Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW), said on Friday that many dollars are being smuggled from the country to Afghanistan and Iran. He said Pakistan’s economy is getting weak due to the continuous smuggling of dollars, while the economy of both the neighbouring countries is getting stable. He added that there is no corruption in the government machinery in Afghanistan, due to which their economy is flourishing despite the sanctions.

In a statement issued today, Aslam Khan said that one US dollar was available at 124 Afghani immediately after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. In comparison, now, one US dollar is available at 86 Afghani.

In contrast, at the time of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, one US dollar in Pakistan was worth about 176 rupees, which is now available at almost 300 rupees.

He noted that despite the wishes of dozens of countries, the dollars smuggled from Pakistan helped Afghanistan to remain afloat. The rulers in Afghanistan are not inclined to create assets and prefer personal welfare over national interest.

Aslam Khan said that resources are not being plundered in Afghanistan but distributed properly, promoting economic development. In Pakistan, the rupee is continuously devalued for exporters’ sake, making imports more expensive, which people with low incomes must bear.

Frequent changes in key policies, non-taxation of the sectors that contribute 60% of GDP and other issues affect the confidence of consumers and investors, which weakens the economy.

Neighbouring countries are taxing the rich to benefit the poor, but he observed that the poor are taxed to promote elitism.

Pakistan has often been described as an elitist state. A small elite class has captured the national economy, which manipulates the market and controls the state, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and inequitable income distribution.

The elite has been so powerful that no one dares to challenge their domination, pushing the country to the brink.