Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has promised that he will “soon” reveal the details of the previous PTI regime’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He made the statement while criticizing the previous government’s handling of IMF conditions.
Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the incumbent government had no other option but to raise prices because the previous government struck the “worst-ever deal” with IMF.
“Acutely aware of the impact that a fuel price hike causes. Govt is left with no choice but to raise the prices due to the IMF deal that the PTI government signed. Will take the nation into confidence on the specifics of the IMF-PTI deal soon. We will get out of these economic difficulties, IA,” Shehbaz Sharif tweeted.
Read more: Budget figures may change to appease IMF
“I wonder whether those who struck the worst ever deal with IMF & took patently bad economic decisions have the conscience to face the truth. How can they pretend to be innocent when what the nation is going through is clearly their doing? Details soon,” the Prime Minister further added.
I wonder whether those who struck the worst ever deal with IMF & took patently bad economic decisions have the conscience to face the truth. How can they pretend to be innocent when what the nation is going through is clearly their doing? Details soon https://t.co/6Cjeimgfd1
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 16, 2022
PML-N vs PTI
Currently, Pakistan is going through one of the worst inflations ever as prices of commodities continue to increase. Last night, the government announced a third petrol hike in less than two weeks.
Starting from June 16, the price of petrol will be Rs233.89 per liter, diesel will be Rs263.31, kerosene oil will be sold for Rs211.43, and the price of light diesel oil will be Rs207.47.
The government is looking to make its way back into the IMF program to receive the remaining funds. In 2019, the previous government, led by PTI, signed a bailout package with the IMF for $6 billion. Islamabad has so far received $3 billion.
Read more: Electricity prices to increase again
The incumbent government needs to meet the IMF conditions. Therefore, the government is now slashing subsidies since the IMF demanded an increase in revenue collection. This has sparked an immense backlash from the public and its rival PTI. The two sides are always trading barbs and blaming each other for Pakistan’s dire economic situation.