Inflation will be brought under control in next two months: Miftah Ismail

KARACHI, Sep 03 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr. Miftah Ismail Ahmed has said that former prime minister Imran Khan struck deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) but later on deal was violated for giving amnesty to his friends. He said that Shaukat Tarin had assured the IMF to increase petrol price after winning no-confidence motion in April. He said that Imran Khan had informed the officials of the Finance Division to increase the prices of the petroleum products after the first week of April. He said that the inflation will be brought under control in next two months.

This was stated by Miftah Ismail while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Saturday. Miftah Ismail said that PTI government had thrown Pakistan towards default, adding that PTI government’s finance minister Senator Shaukat Fayyaz Ahmed Tarin is saying that PTI government was intending to send the IMF packing from Pakistan. He said that Shaukat Tarin was sending Pakistan towards default, adding that Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and coalition government while talking tough decisions saved Pakistan from default. He said that on Monday there was board meeting of IMF and on Friday Shaukat Tarin on telephone was inciting the finance ministers of KP and Punjab to stop this thing of Pakistan, adding that Tarin said “We can not let them get away scot-free”. He said that Imran Khan would be bigger than Pakistan in the eyes of Shaukat Tarin but is not bigger than Pakistan in our eyes.

Miftah Ismail asked PTI leaders to stop speaking lies and should have pardon on the country, adding that PTI government increased the debt of country by Rs 19,000 billion, which is 79 percent of the debt securing in 70 years of history of country. He said that Imran Khan had come to decrease the debt of the country, adding that whether Imran Khan has decreased the debt of country. He said that Shehbaz Sharif did not allow shortage of petrol even for a single day in Pakistan. He said that today half Pakistan has been inundated in flood water, adding that Shehbaz Sharif is providing Rs 25,000 financial assistance to over 4 million families per month. He said that Rs 60 to 70 billion will be spent in this form and he will provide this money, adding that complete cotton crop in Sindh has been destroyed. He said that cotton crop present on 1.4 million acres in Sindh has been destroyed. He said that dates crop has been completely destroyed in Sindh and 20 percent sugarcane crop has been destroyed in Sindh.

Miftah Ismail said that Shaukat Tarin became rich person and finance minister due to Pakistan, adding that Miftah Ismail is also due to Pakistan, whether we are rendering this service to Pakistan. He said that half of our schools going age children are not going to schools today, adding that how many times Imran Khan has visited the flood affected area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. He said that whether Russian oil has been imported in 70 years history of Pakistan, adding that whether Russian oil could be processed in Pakistani refineries. He said that Imran Khan pays $25,000 or $50,000 per month for lobbying in America and then they come and teach us about America.

Miftah Ismail said that Imran Khan should justify from where his finances come and we will also justify our finances. He said that the economy has been stabilized and has been saved from default, adding that we accept there is high inflation. Miftah Ismail said that the textile mill owners will be allowed to import cotton for their mills. He said that good quality flour will be provided to the people at utility stores, adding that we have imported 1 million tonne wheat and further 1.6 million tonne wheat will be imported.

He said that if Imran Khan wants to do politics and wants to speak lie then the nation will not pardon him. He said that if prices of tomatoes and onions have increased due to flood, we will import these items from Afghanistan, Iran and Turkiye and brought down their prices as it is our duty. He said that Imran Khan did not fulfill a single promise made with the nation.

He said that Imran Khan talks about securing real freedom for Pakistan, adding that in my view late Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had secured real freedom for us and Imran Khan did not need of doing this again. He said that Imran Khan imported things of $80 billion last year and exported things of $31 billion and left $48 billion trade deficit. He said that if $30 billion remittances of overseas Pakistanis are also included then Imran Khan left $18 billion current account deficit. He said that Imran Khan decreased $5 billion reserves in last two months of his government and had left $10 billion reserves. He said that if someone talks about real freedom then he could not carryout imports of $80 billion in front of $30 billion exports. He said that it is not real freedom that you go everywhere along with a begging bowl, adding that Imran Khan had started terming it as “package”. He said that Imran Khan talks about real freedom but he could not be able to secure freedom from Malik Riaz.