ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the government is ready to make more “difficult” decisions if needed, hoping that the rich people will support the nation in the tough economic situation the country is going through.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the federal cabinet, the premier again blamed the previous PTI-led government’s poor performance for the deteriorating economic conditions. “The previous government reduced the price of petrol and laid a trap for the next government,” he said, adding that the economic conditions are worsening across the world as commodity prices are rising.
PM Shehbaz revealed that the current coalition government is giving Rs2,000 to 700 million deserving people and that the government has imposed taxes on the rich people in the budget for the next fiscal year 2022-23.
“The previous government did not work for the betterment of the people of the country and also breached the agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” he said, assuring the journalists that despite all the hurdles the government will bring Pakistan out of the difficult phase.
“We inherited severe economic crises left behind by the previous government, but with hard work and dedication, the collation government will steer the country out of the current challenges,” he added.
Criticizing his predecessors, he said the previous government reduced petroleum prices at the time of their exit from power corridors which smack of conspiracy and was based upon ill-will.
The prime minister said that these were hard times, and they had taken difficult and bold decisions and hinted that if required in the future, they would take such steps for the economic turnaround.
“We will not budge from taking the necessary steps to set the country’s economy on the right track with hard work and the nation’s prayers,” he stressed.
“The coalition government was determined to steer the country out of the current economic crises by striving day and night.”
Expressing his optimism, the prime minister said it was his strong conviction that the good times were in store for the country.
About the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, the prime minister observed that the previous PTI’s government had promised to increase prices and impose taxes, but they retracted and violated the pact by which they ought to abide by.
He said that due to such ploys by the previous government, today, the country was facing difficulty with the IMF.
He also mentioned that the global economic situation was complicated as the prices of petrol and grains were spiraling.
The government had decided to increase prices of petroleum products with heavy heart, he said.
The prime minister further explained that in the budget, they had decided to divert the burden from the poor and levy a tax upon the wealthy people.
He expressed the confidence that the affluent and wealthy class would pay taxes and offer sacrifices for the country and nation.
