Imran Khan has caused so much harm to the country which even could not be caused by any enemy: Ahsan Iqbal

LAHORE, August 20 (SABAH): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry says the government, despite having a limited tenure, is doing its best to improve country’s economy. He said that Imran Khan has caused so much harm to the country which even could not be caused by any enemy.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore on Saturday, he said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ruined the economy before leaving the government; however the present government took the economy out of crisis, which will further improve in the coming six to eight months.

Ahsan Iqbal said boosting exports is the only way to take the economy forward in the right direction. He also stressed the need to double the tax to GDP ratio to provide resources for the country’s progress. He said that no country of the world could make progress with 9.5 percent tax to GDP ratio. Ahsan Iqbal said that until and unless we will take our tax revenue to Rs 15 to Rs 20 thousand billion there is no space for Pakistan where we could make claim for making rapid progress. 

The Minister said we will have to boost our production capabilities. He said China has offered brotherly assistance to improve Pakistan’s economy. He said that the imports of China from the world are over $2225 billion and Pakistan share in Chinese imports is $3 billion. Ahsan Iqabl said that we have always the fear that so and so Chinese product will take share from Pakistani market but we never thought about the reverse side of the matter that how Pakistan could take make share in Chinese imports. He said that Chinese government is also ready to support Pakistan in this regard. He said that if Pakistan wants to move forward then except export, export and export there is no other way.

Ahsan Iqbal said political stability, continuity in economic policies and social solidarity are needed for a country’s progress. Ahsan Iqbal said that if you want to make progress then you have to earn forex reserves. He said that there is network of over 3000 kilometers of motorway which is not even present in our neighboring country.