Govt sacrificing economic well-being to hide lack of mandate, says PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Saturday launched a scathing critique of the federal government, alleging that the economic interests of 250 million Pakistanis are being compromised to overshadow the administration’s lack of constitutional mandate.

In a formal statement, the PTI leader contended that a government "standing on 17 seats while masquerading as 170" lacks the public mandate necessary for genuine reform. He argued that the clearest evidence of this illegitimacy is the systemic economic hardship being imposed on the population.

Addressing the brewing energy crisis, Mr. Akram questioned the government’s regressive approach to solar energy. He noted that while solar adoption helped mitigate loadshedding, the public is now being penalised through a revised net metering policy. He challenged the government to stop passing the financial burden of flawed Independent Power Producer (IPP) contracts onto consumers and demanded a plan to align electricity tariffs with regional benchmarks as summer demand exceeds 30,000MW. He further dismissed claims of eased loadshedding via increased dam releases, questioning if the surge in water flow aligns with agricultural requirements or is merely a "panic response" to power shortages.

The PTI spokesperson also targeted fuel pricing strategies, describing them as a "tax cash cow" used to compensate for a failed tax base. He pointed out that petroleum levy collections surpassed Rs1,500 billion over the year, including Rs180 billion in the last six weeks alone. He cited the government’s "wag the dog" management—marked by abrupt price hikes followed by selective freezes—as evidence of a lack of a coherent economic vision.

Regarding external financing, Mr. Akram argued that the release of an IMF tranche and the rollover of a $3 billion Saudi deposit are not signs of recovery, but rather indicators of an enduring dependence on external debt. He also expressed concern over the exit of multinational companies like AkzoNobel from Pakistan, noting a 27 percent year-on-year decline in investment which contradicts official claims of rising investor confidence.

Furthermore, he referenced Senate Standing Committee findings alleging that state-owned enterprises and autonomous bodies have parked approximately Rs1,000 billion in commercial bank accounts instead of the Federal Consolidated Fund, terming the situation "autopilot economics."

Mr. Akram concluded with a demand regarding the health of Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan. Following her eye surgery at a Rawalpindi hospital and subsequent return to Adiala jail, the PTI leader demanded that both Imran Khan and his wife be immediately transferred to Shifa International Hospital for medical examinations supervised by their personal physicians and family members.