Public support necessary for economic development: Sheikh Rasheed

Rawalpindi: Awami Muslim League (AML) chairman Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday said without the public's assistance, the nation's economic problems could not be addressed.

Taking to Twitter, Rasheed criticized the government for applauding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan's demise, claiming that the general public was responsible for paying off the loans.

According to the former interior minister, IMF delegation was meeting with major political parties to get assurances on a number of issues, including granting people the right to vote. 

He described the $3 billion standby arrangement with the IMF as a "temporary relief" that will not relieve for public.

Pakistan must return $91 billion over three years and $11 billion by the end of this year, Rasheed stated however regretting the fact that the country's growth rate, exports, and remittances all remained flat. 

The former minister anticipated a challenging initial nine months for the caretaker administration and the next government. 

According to AML chief, friendly nations had urged Pakistan to achieve political stability in order to promote economic stability. If the government didn't get the debts rescheduled on time, he threatened of default.

“Running the country in the current economic and political climate is not an easy task”, Rasheed said, adding that there was no relief for public.

He further said democratic setup collapsed where constitution and law were violated, court orders defied and people were abducted from their houses. 

In such situation, people left with no option except to snatch their rights by risking their lives, he said.

12جولائی سے پہلے آئی ایم ایف بڑی پارٹیوں سے یقین دہانیاں چاہتا ہے جس میں لوگوں کو ووٹ کا حق دینا بھی شامل ہے پاکستان کے معاشی مسائل کا حل سٹینڈ بائےمعاہدے سے نہیں ہوا عارضی ریلیف ملا ہے عوام کی تکلیف میں کمی نہیں ہوئی تین سال میں91 ارب ڈالر اور اس سال دسمبر تک 11 ارب ڈالر دینے…

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) July 8, 2023