- Alarming brain drain a direct result of growing hopelessness, economic mismanagement: Waqas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram strongly criticized the imposed government for presenting fabricated and misleading data in the Economic Survey, dismissing it as nothing more than a smokescreen designed to conceal its glaring economic failures.
He stated that the reality on the ground paints a much bleaker picture — over 3 million educated and skilled young Pakistanis have been forced to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. This alarming brain drain, he emphasized, is a direct result of the growing hopelessness, economic mismanagement, and lack of prospects under the current regime, PTI CIS added.
Addressing a press conference alongside with PTI Members of the National Assembly here on Thursday said that this exodus of talent was not just a statistic — it’s a national tragedy. “Our brightest minds were giving up on their homeland because the government has failed to provide them with a future here,” he added. Waqas lambasted the current regime’s economic policies, which derailed a once rapidly growing economy through their short-sighted, self-serving, and fundamentally flawed approach to governance. He strongly criticized the Finance Minister, dismissing him as an imported figure with no real stake in Pakistan’s future. He added that the Minister lacked both empathy and vision to address the country’s struggling economy.
PTI CIS lamented that while the so-called Form-47 government speaks of an economic turnaround, the grim reality tells a different story. Families are being forced to sell their land and ancestral jewelry just to afford migration — a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply the public has lost faith in the country’s current direction.
He further stated that large-scale industries have been in decline for three consecutive years, with skilled labor continuing to flee the country due to a hostile and unsupportive business environment. He rejected the projected growth figures for large-scale manufacturing in the upcoming fiscal year, calling them nothing more than fabricated data and wishful propaganda.
PTI CIS revealed a troubling statistic, as the number of tractors sold—an essential indicator of agricultural health—has plummeted from 38,000 to just 24,000. This sharp decline, he said, is a clear sign of the agricultural sector’s collapse.
Waqas stressed that while nearly 70% of Pakistan’s population relies on agriculture for their livelihood, the regime has failed to release any credible unemployment data, further exposing its disconnect from the harsh realities faced by ordinary citizens. “These oppressive individuals have pushed the country to the brink of economic collapse. The people of Pakistan are losing hope,” he said. “This regime is not just incompetent—it is utterly callous and disconnected from the suffering of the masses.”
Waqas further added, “This government has lost all credibility. Even segments of the media that once supported them are now turning away. They have no place left to hide after wrecking a country that was once on the path to progress.”
He made it clear that PTI would not budge an inch from its stated position and would continue its struggle for release of PTI founder Imran Khan, upholding supremacy of constitution, rule of law, reversal of controversial 26th constitutional amendment and true democracy.
PTI MNA Rana Atif strongly condemned the government’s economic mismanagement, manipulation of official data, and betrayal of public trust, challenging the authenticity of the figures presented in the federal budget and economic survey.
Rana highlighted that prior to April 9, 2022, Pakistan was on a path of economic progress, recording a robust 6.5% GDP growth in 2022—before the PTI government was ousted through what he described as a regime change conspiracy. “Despite collecting over Rs. 40 trillion in taxes, the burden on ordinary citizens continues to grow,” he added. “This is not just misgovernance—it is economic betrayal,” he declared. “A crime has been committed against 250 million Pakistanis. They have been misled, exploited, and pushed toward economic ruin,” he maintained.
On the occasion, MNA Usama Ahmed Mela noted that even countries like Bangladesh—despite enduring a bloody revolution—managed to achieve 4% economic growth. “Several African nations are also registering higher growth rates than Pakistan,” he said, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Referring to official data, the PTI MNA pointed out that the State Bank’s own website lists the inflation rate at 10.5%, contradicting the government’s misleading claim of 4%. He added that Pakistan has now suffered three consecutive years of negative growth, a sign of sustained economic decline. “What Ishaq Dar did through figure-fudging is now being repeated by Aurangzeb,” he said.
PTI MNA Chaudhary Mubeen Arif Jutt questioned how the large-scale manufacturing sector is expected to grow when the government has failed to provide any electricity subsidy in the federal budget.
He recalled that during the tenure of the PTI founder, a targeted electricity subsidy was extended to large-scale manufacturing units, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis, to support industrial activity and job retention. He further criticized FBR, stating that it consistently failed to meet its revenue targets and has resorted to placing the burden of its shortfalls squarely on the shoulders of ordinary citizens.
