PTI Criticizes Punjab Government for Economic Mismanagement and Anti-Farmer Policies
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information, Sheikh Waqas Akram, has strongly criticized the Punjab government, accusing it of adopting policies that harm farmers and exacerbate economic challenges.
During a press conference in Peshawar on Friday, alongside Provincial Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam, Akram highlighted what he described as the ruling government’s poor governance and economic failures.
He dismissed recent claims by Maryam Nawaz, who had stated that the country’s economy was improving. “Maryam Nawaz says the economy is on the right track, but the numbers tell a different story. During PTI’s tenure, Punjab’s poverty rate was 12%, but now it has risen to 13%,” Akram stated.
He further criticized the government’s economic track record, noting that exports during PTI’s administration reached $31 billion. In contrast, he claimed that export projections for 2024 had dropped to $26 billion. He also pointed out that poverty in 2022 stood at 35%, which has now surged to 44% under the current administration.
Addressing fiscal challenges, Akram highlighted the increase in interest rates, which he said had worsened the fiscal deficit, resulting in losses exceeding Rs408 billion. He also accused the government of mismanaging key institutions such as PIA, which he claimed are now operating at significant losses.
Akram alleged that the Punjab government had failed to improve basic public services like healthcare, criticizing Maryam Nawaz for naming health units and educational institutions after her family. He also compared healthcare initiatives, stating that the PTI’s Sehat Card in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offered coverage for 103 diseases, while the Punjab government had introduced separate cards for individual illnesses.
In the agricultural sector, Akram labeled the Punjab government as “anti-farmer,” criticizing its handling of agricultural programs. He noted how PTI’s poultry initiative had initially been mocked by the opposition but argued that the current government’s efforts had been equally unsuccessful.
He also dismissed the government’s recent claims about job cuts. “The finance minister says they are cutting 150,000 jobs, but these were already vacant positions. This is nothing but an attempt to mislead the public,” Akram said.
Provincial Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam echoed Akram’s sentiments, accusing the Punjab government of leaving the country mired in debt while contrasting this with PTI’s governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He emphasized that the PTI-led government had brought improvements, whereas the current administration had failed to address rising food prices and declining economic stability.
Aslam also expressed concern over the increasing number of Pakistanis leaving the country, citing a staggering 1.8 million individuals who had migrated recently. He warned that forcing wheat prices down artificially could lead to long-term economic repercussions.
