Opp in NA wants Hafeez, Reza Baqir names on ECL over 'poor performance'.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Monday called for putting the names of Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and State Bank Governor Reza Baqir on the exit control list (ECL) over what he called poor economic performance.

Initiating the debate on budget 2020-21 in National Assembly, the PML-N leader said the government is drawing back economically. "In fact, it has acknowledged defeat without saying it publicly," he said, adding that now the government is following the IMF's lead. He said the government should have benefited from the falling interest rate but Pakistan incurred a loss of about Rs 1.5-1.7 trillion on interest rate. "The caretakers of Pakistan's current economy Dr Hafeez Shaikh and SBP governor should be given targets and they should also be made to sign performance bonds. Don't make a mess out of country's economy," he added.

The PML-N leader said that the tax revenue of 'Naya Pakistan' stands where it was in the previous government's tenure. "During former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's tenure, growth in gross domestic product (GDP) was 5.5%, and the same under Prime Minister Imran Khan s 'Naya Pakistan' is -0.4%," he said, adding that today Bangladesh is ahead of Pakistan in every aspect of economy. He claimed that there will be a mini-budget soon and more taxes will be imposed. "They are mercenaries; why are they brought to power?"

The PML-N leader, taking note of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, said he honours the healthcare...