The opposition parties attacked the PTI-led government on Friday for passing the “mini-budget” and the SBP Amendment Bill, as well as the rise in the power tariff, in order to meet essential conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Yesterday [Thursday] was a black day in the country’s parliamentary history as the government pushed a mini-budget on the people already struggling from [a] historic price hike,” PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif tweeted.
Yesterday was a black day in country's parliamentary history as govt imposed a mini budget on the people already reeling under historic price hike. They wont forgive PTI 4 making their lives miserable. The masses will bury them with power of their vote. It’s only a matter of time
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 14, 2022
People would not forgive the PTI for making their life difficult, he stressed. “With the force of their vote, the public will bury them [PTI].” “It’s simply a question of time,” says the narrator. Shehbaz also bemoaned the “cruel” hike in the energy rate of Rs4.30 per unit in another tweet.
“The PTI administration continues to be indifferent to the plight of those whose lives it has already made a living hell,” he continued. “This dictatorship simply listens to and protects its funders and contributors’ interests.”
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal, both senior PML-N figures, slammed the PTI-led government for passing the bills.
Abbasi expressed remorse at a news conference in Islamabad that the bills were passed in haste during the NA session. Former Prime Minister alleged that the PTI-led administration was handing over control of the country’s economy to the IMF. “A weight of over Rs700 billion has been imposed on the shoulders of the nation,” he continued.
Abbasi said that no regulations or constitutional norms were followed during the bill voting, which took place in front of the prime minister. He went on to say that the federal ministers had confirmed that the IMF had forced them to pass the bills.
Iqbal said he requested the NA speaker to reject the SBP bill because it was “against the country,” but it was adopted “in violation of all the laws and regulations.” He remembered that six months ago, the finance minister had emphasised the country’s historic tax collecting ambitions. “However, the government has succeeded in economically repressing the people.”
Iqbal went on to say that if the SBP bill is passed, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project will be “destroyed.” PML-N leader Miftah Ismail, who was also there, said the IMF has demanded that the budget deficit be reduced. “Instead of implementing austerity measures, the government chose to raise taxes.”
In the mini-budget, the existing government, according to Ismail, put a tax on chicken feed. “This will, in turn, raise chicken prices across the country.” He also mentioned that a tax on pharmaceuticals had been introduced. “While the bread tax has been removed, retailers will be required to pay it.”
Senator Sherry Rehman of the PPP also took a swipe at the administration for passing the mini-budget.
“After the mini-budget is passed, there will be a storm of inflation,” she warned reporters.
“Baby milk, bread, seeds, and other basic essentials are considered luxury commodities by the government,” she noted. “There will be a price increase of 12%.” She later criticised the increase in the power rate in a tweet.
She wrote, “They are receiving ‘incompetence adjustment,’ not ‘fuel adjustment.” “Consumers will be taxed an additional Rs35 billion.” She further said, referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan, that those who used to burn electricity bills while standing on a container were robbing consumers of billions of rupees every month. Fuel prices are also projected to rise, according to the PPP vice president.
“Under the guise of rising oil prices on the global market, an inflation bomb will be dropped on the people.” She went on to say that the current government has no plans to help the people. “Now the people will get respite only when this incompetent government goes home.”
