PPP slams fed govt on not applying for debt relief from G20

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Tuesday sought clarification from the federal government with regard of debt relief programme and questioned the federal government for spreading misinformation and not applying for the G20 debt relief programme. "Why has Pakistan failed to formally ask G20 for debt relief as it is alarming that the federal government was misleading the public, especially during these testing times,” questioned parliamentary leader of the PPP in Senate Senator Sherry Rehman. Sherry Rehman said contrary to claims made by federal government about securing a substantial debt relief, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative, Teresa Sanchez, said that Islamabad has not made an official request to G20 countries for payment relaxation. "Pakistan should have officially requested G20 nations for debt relief. It is important to point out that only those countries could avail debt relief that had made official requests to the G20. In Pakistan's case, this never happened", the senator added. She said when no official request was made to the G20 nations for debt relief, then why was misleading news circulating in the media that Pakistan would secure $12 billion worth of relief. “This will not only cause chaos and confusion inside Pakistan but is also embarrassing in the eyes of the international community", the senator questioned. Questioning the lack of transparency from the federal government's side, Sherry Rehman said the federal government has announced emergency relief packages without consulting the Parliament.