ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday strongly criticized the federal government’s recently released Economic Survey, alleging it misrepresents key indicators and reflects a financial agenda dictated entirely by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
During a press conference at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, and PTI MNA Mubeen Arif Jutt jointly condemned the budgetary framework.
“This budget isn’t ours—it’s been handed down directly by the IMF. The Economic Survey is nothing more than another Form 47 document,” said Omar Ayub, alluding to the controversial election result forms allegedly used to manipulate the February 8 general elections.
Citing media sources, PTI leaders claimed that poverty levels have surged from 35% to 45%, placing around 30 million Pakistanis below the poverty line. Ayub argued that inflation has eroded purchasing power to critical levels: “In 2022, someone earning Rs50,000 now effectively takes home Rs22,000.” He also stated that wheat prices had jumped 50% over three years, and that a staggering 80% of the development budget went unutilized.
Questioning the reliability of official statistics, he remarked sarcastically: “We need to ask—has the number of four-legged donkeys increased, or the two-legged ones?”
Sheikh Waqas Akram echoed these sentiments, saying the poor have been devastated by the government’s economic mismanagement. “Poverty didn’t rise due to a natural disaster—there was no earthquake. Yet agriculture, which supports 37% of the population, has collapsed.”
He recounted a discussion in an NFC meeting where KP’s finance minister reportedly questioned how electricity growth was being calculated. The answer, Waqas said, was that solar panels installed on rooftops were being counted—despite the government having no control over them.
“Inflation remains unchecked. For the first time, 30% of livestock remained unsold during Eid. Three million citizens have emigrated in three years,” he added. “When we left office, debt stood at Rs43,500 billion. Since then, another Rs31,500 billion has been added.”
“This budget does not represent the government’s vision—it’s an IMF product. This Economic Survey is fiction, not fact.”
PTI MNA Mubeen Arif Jutt added that the government must stop masking problems and start taking responsibility. Referring to the finance minister’s comment about halving the policy rate, he said: “If revival is the goal, then genuine accountability—not window dressing—is needed.”
