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I’m ready to face same hardships that nation endured but cannot tolerate cruelty towards people: Nawaz Sharif

SIALKOT, Jan 28 (SABAH): Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PLM-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that he is ready to face the same hardships that the nation endured but cannot tolerate cruelty towards the people.

Addressing a public gathering in Sialkot, a three-time former premier criticized the PTI government by highlighting the massive hike in petrol prices and the sky-high inflation, which he claimed were absent during his last tenure in power. “Sugar that once sold at a rate of Rs50 per kilogram is now being sold for Rs150,” said Nawaz.

He also asked the people to understand the truth about those responsible for the current circumstances in the country, including inflation. Nawaz added the common man can no longer afford even necessities and again gave an example of his earlier tenure, promising people to control inflation and make living more affordable.

A day earlier, the PML-N unveiled a cautiously optimistic economic manifesto in a bid to strike a balance between the high hopes of the people and harsh ground realities with regard to the country’s dire financial straits, setting mostly achievable goals without unravelling the economic stability.

Some of the goals are largely in line with the five-year projections given by the International Monetary Fund in its staff report released this month. But the manifesto is silent on the questions of the new IMF bailout package and the treatment of a mounting public debt.

The budget and the current account deficit goals suggest that the PML-N, if voted to power, might be thinking of going into an IMF programme.

The party also reneged on its promise to give free electricity to those consumers who are consuming 200 units monthly.

The PML-N has not aimed at making Pakistan an Asian Tiger and seems content with adopting a conservative approach towards gradual uptick in income levels. It has announced per capita income at $2,000 by 2029, showing a gradual increase in this direction.