PM won’t succumb to IMF: Tarin

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Saturday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would not succumb to the IMF pressure and won’t put burden on the poor.

Winding up debate on demands for grants for the Finance Division, the minister maintained that Imran Khan, who is standing before the IMF, would not burden the poor masses. “Imran Khan, who has not increased petroleum prices in the last many months, would not succumb to IMF on this issue,” he said.

The minister said the economic growth rate, which was touching 4 percent, would reach 5 percent next year. He reminded the opposition members that it was not Pakistan only which witnessed minus growth during first wave of COVID-19 as India and Bangladesh experienced even worst situation. He said the growth rate, which for this year was projected at 2 percent, witnesses nearly 4 percent rate. He said the government would exceed revenue collection target of Rs4.7 trillion for the current fiscal year and next year's target of Rs5.8 trillion would also be met. He again told the opposition that the government had to approach the IMF as it inherited 20 billion dollars current account deficit. He further pointed out that trade deficit increased as Miftah Ismail artificially appreciated rupee against dollar.

Qaiser Ahmad Shaikh of the PMLN said that Shaukat Tarin was a competent person and seasoned banker, but the finance minister should be taken from elected representatives so that he could have interaction with people and know their problems. The National Assembly after smooth proceedings of last one week, on Saturday witnessed a glimpse of exchange of harsh words as the opposition members strongly criticised performance of the federal cabinet on demands for grants.

“Are you asking for grants for such people who did nothing for Kashmir and Kashmir cause," the PMLN member while reacting to remarks of the Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur said.

The minister rose in his seat and started addressing the opposition members when they were terming the cabinet members as incompetent.

“Sit down. You used to carry bottles of honey," Rana Tanveer told Gandapur.

The PML-N leader said people like this minister bargained on the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and now they are playing havoc with this part of territory. He pointed out that there was a brigade of special assistants and spokespersons in addition to the huge cabinet.

Speaker Asad Qaiser intervened and cooled down the situation. Rana Tanveer Hussain said the Establishment Division, the role of which has been reduced to a post office, should be abolished and instead a section officer be appointed to issue notifications.

The PPP parliamentarian Abdul Qadir Patel said it would take long time to talk about failures of the cabinet members.

“Should we approve grants for the federal cabinet so that it continues with its failures,” he said, adding that some special assistants have already escaped the country after committing corruption.

Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan while responding to a point of an opposition leader said the incumbent cabinet is controlled from the Parliament and not from across the border.

Babar Awan said firm action has been taken against corrupt elements. He said recoveries of Rs1,000 billion have been made from different mafias including land mafia. He said the government strengthened the economy despite COVID-19. He said cash assistance was directly disbursed to the deserving people in all the provinces under Ehsaas programme after the outbreak of the pandemic. Babar Awan said the budget for next fiscal year envisages allocations that will also enable the poor in the rural areas to build houses. He said houses and flats are being constructed across the country under Naya Pakistan Housing Authority.