The Secretary-General of United Business Group (UBG) and former president of FPCCI Zubair Tufail has said that the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by Imran Khan has successfully controlled Coronavirus as compared to India. Still, the prices of sugar, flour, milk, petrol have been increased substantially.
Commented on the PTI’s two years performance, he said when Prime Minister Imran Khan when took office, the country’s economic affairs were under pressure. However, after taking office, the PTI government took some necessary steps, including banning unnecessary imports and increasing duties.
As a result, imports fell by about 5 billion dollars in one year, and the current account deficit reduced from $20 billion to $3 billion in the second year. This is a significant achievement of his government, he added.
He expressed concern that in the second year, the price of flour increased from Rs 40 to Rs 65 per kg, the amount of sugar increased from Rs 70 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, while the price of sugar in Peshawar rose to Rs 110 per kg.
Similarly, petrol prices were also increased sharply from Rs 70 to more than Rs 104, while the income of the common man fell instead of rising and this storm of inflation broke the backs of the general public.
He said that the most significant achievement of the PTI government was that it managed to control the Coronavirus outbreak intelligently. In contrast, in neighbouring India, due to poor strategy of the government there, 900 to 1000 people die of Coronavirus every day.
The better strategy of Prime Minister Imran Khan government to control the Coronavirus in Pakistan has reduced the daily death toll from 100 to 10, which has been praised around the world, especially by the World Health Organization.
Zubair Tufail further said that due to Corona, Pakistan’s economy like other economies in the world, has also fallen victim to the crisis.
He said that provided loans and also delayed repayment of many investments, in the second year of the present government, the interest rate has been reduced from 13% to 7%, due to which the business community breathed a sigh of relief, and the wheel of the country’s economy turned.
He said Pakistan received the highest-ever remittances from Overseas Pakistanis in July 2020, reaching $2.768 billion.
He said that exports are declining due to rising production costs due to current electricity and gas prices.
He said that people hope that Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government will fulfil their election promises to provide 10 million jobs and build 5 million houses in the next three years.
Commenting on Karachi, he said although PIT got 14 Nation Assembly seats from this city no improvement has come in the unfortunate situation of the city. There is no electricity, and the power situation is continuously bad, mainly due to the rains. The city is in a state of disarray.
The provincial government does not provide any help, and the centre did not pay any special attention. However, on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the NDMA Drain cleaning.