PM's plain talk.

IN an interview, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has warned of an additional burden on people as a result of the conditions that the Government has agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for restoration of the aid under the stalled bailout package. The PM dwelt at length on various important issues agitating the minds of the people, including the one-year performance of his government, the economic situation, elections, Toshakhana record, party matters as well as probe into the murder of anchorperson Arshad Sharif.

Apparently, the Prime Minister was trying to sensitize people about more hardships in their daily lives but the Government must understand that the capacity to absorb more shocks is exhausted and therefore, there is need for relief for the people as the Government has done only recently by announcing measures under the framework of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The inflation has multiplied and family incomes have squeezed due to implementation of IMF conditions and people are justified to ask what was the logic of having such a programme if there was still no visible improvement in the economic conditions of the country and its people.

The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that a staff level agreement would be signed with the Fund in the next few days as the country has already implemented toughest conditions put by the global lending institution. About delay in the signing of the accord, he said there was a trust deficit because of violation of the accord that the PTI Government signed with the IMF and now the Fund wanted implementation of the agreed terms in letter and spirit. Surely, there is a need to bridge the trust deficit as it is harming the economic and financial interests of the country as is evident from the fact that even the closest of friends were not willing to assist in the absence of an accord with the IMF. In reply to a question, the Prime Minister clarified that cases (over eighty in number) against former PM Imran Khan were not framed by the Government but registered by citizens. He explained that the PTI chief had been avoiding arrest on the excuse of illness or injury and got relief despite using foul language against national institutions. Shehbaz Sharif also...

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