Bilawal warns govt of countrywide protest against IMF deal

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday warned the government of a countrywide protest if it did not renegotiate its deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking at an event here, the PPP chief said neither did the people of Pakistan nor the PPP accept the budget by the PTI government. He said the PTI government was robbing people of their economic rights. “Last year, they gave us less than Rs100 billion in the NFC (National Finance Commission) Award. This year, they have provided us Rs140 billion. With such an amount, how can we give employment to our people,” he asked. He said the PPP had always empowered the poor of the country and made policies for their welfare. Bilawal said the PPP had always provided employment to the people of Pakistan. Bilawal described the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as a revolutionary concept and said it was the first safety net initiative of Pakistan. He blamed the government for robbing the people of the BISP and the money that was given to them as a result of the programme. The PPP chairman called upon the people to become his source of strength so that the party was able to form its government again.