ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday said while government he has 13 months, but may not have much time, hinting at growing frustration among PML-N leaders. over the economic situation of the country and way it is being processed.
Finance minister spoke in event in Karachi, where he spoke in detail about politics, national growth strategytax collection, increase population and other important problems hindering economic stabilization.
” government I have 13 months, but I may not have that much time,” Ismail said, lamenting the low tax collection.
His statement comes in background of dissatisfaction within PML-N over Shahbaz Sharif government policy. Recently head of PML-N Nawaz Sharif left a government meeting over petrol price disagreement and expressed anger with in minister for increase in fuel prices, according to party Vice President Maryam Nawaz.
According to senior journalist Suheil Warreich, who met supremo PML-N in London, Nawaz Sharif was not pleased with in the party’s narration, which states that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif should reach yourself out explain to the masses the government’s policies and causes of inflation.
“Completely dissatisfied with Mifta Ismail, former prime minister believes that only Ishaq Dar can support a devastated country economy,” he said Geo News.
Speaking at the IBA eventMiftah Ismail said that government took difficult decisions in difficult situations like first the priority was to revive the lending program of the International Monetary Fund.
“We contacted the IMF soon after coming to power and saved Pakistan from default.”
PTI government signed an agreement with Washington creditor, and then violated terms of agreement announcing subsidies on petroleum products,” he said.
Finance minister complained that the country population increases in rate of 2.4%.
He said Pakistan “has not defaulted and will never default”, adding that he was ashamed to ask for loans.
“Not one to want give tax in Pakistan,” he lamented further.
He said the scale of tax net increases and business class is taxed net.
Ismail said flash floods caused devastation on large scale in country. “Rs 28 billion has been allocated under the Benazir Income Support Program. in transparently in to help the victims people,” he said.
He said that initially amount of Rs 25,000 is being transferred to affected families to meet their food needs.
Finance minister said that flood-affected people “will not abandoned in this is testing time and will be compensated by using all available resources, even if it means a diversion of COS funds for their rehabilitation.
