Economic crisis & debt burden are due to the ill-conceived policies of the present & past govts: Sirajul Haq

ISLAMABAD, June 02 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has said that the economic crisis and debt burden are due to the ill-conceived policies of the present and past governments.

On the basis of his experience as former finance minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sirajul Haq said he believed the country did not need foreign loans, but what was required was better governance and durable policies based on the principle of self-reliance.

While addressing students at Iqra University Islamabad, Sirajul Haq said the PDM government of 14 parties failed to introduce any reform and public welfare project during its 15 months in power. The parties, he added, led the long marches against inflation before coming to power in April, and now they even did not utter a single word about the miseries of the people who were burning in the fire of inflation and unemployment. The national exchequer was empty, and the inflation rate touched 48 percent, he added. The government, he said, was desperately looking towards IMF and friendly countries to form the budget. He questioned how long the country’s economy would be run on the loans?

The state, Sirajul Haq added, must get rid of the corruption and an interest-free economy, plus there was a dire need for the fair distribution of resources. Sirajul Haq said the country’s 70 to 80 percent of resources were occupied by two percent elite. He said the interest-free financial system could put the economy on track. He said across the board accountability and the rule of law were the keys for progress. He said the governments of the PDM, the PPP and the PTI failed to perform despite repeated opportunities to run the affairs of the country. He said the educated youth should not be disappointed rather they should use their energies for the betterment and get rid of the corrupt system. He said the youth must support the JI to transform Pakistan into a welfare Islamic state.