Whatever US asked Pakistan did, was 'biggest mistake': PM Imran

"Pakistan kept handing over its own people to the US. Whatever US asked us we followed it blindly," the premier said while addressing the National Assembly budget session.

He said Pakistan had made a big mistake while involving itself in the war on terror initiated by the US, adding when "we had killed our people on our own the US could not be blamed for it".

"Pakistanis had never felt more "humiliated" than when Pakistan decided to be join the US war on terror. We decided to become a front line state. I questioned repeatedly, what did we have to do with the war?"

The premier said though the US was our ally, but it continued executing drones attacks within Pakistan, questioining how a country could allow any other country to attack its areas.  

He questioned if Pakistan could execute drone attack onto London where a 'terrorist' wanted by Pakistan had been taking refuge for the last 30 years or so. 

“If a terrorist from Pakistan is living in UK for the last 30 years, will UK allow us to launch a drone attack in their country,” teh premier questioned.

"Are we sub-humans. Our lives have no cost,” the Prime Minister said and regretted that the then government befooled masses by condemning drone US drone attacks, as later it was revealed in an open hearing of US Senate Committee that the US had permission from Pakistan government for drone attacks.

Khan made it clear that Pakistan "could stand by the US in maintaining peace in the region, but not wars".

وزیراعظم عمران خان کا قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں اظہارِ خیال۔@PakPMO @ImranKhanPTI @fawadchaudhry https://t.co/OTnRqQnqQp

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 30, 2021

Crititcising the previous regimes, Khan said, "We were unable to muster courage to admit publically the permission granted for drones attacks."

The premier went on to say that the tribal areas of the country were still unstable because of after effects of US war on terror.

Mr Khan pointed out that despite the great sacrifices Pakistan rendered in the US war on terror including the loss of 70,000 lives and $150 billion economic losses, it was declared as most dangerous place in the world.  

Opposition invited over electoral reforms

PM Imran has once again invited the joint Opposition to sit together to bring electoral reforms, saying the government is willing to welcome suggestions from the opposition legsialtors.

Speaking on the floor of the house during the budget session, the premier said all elections post 1970 remained contoversial so the opposition join hands with the treasury to bring reforms in the entire election process.

"I invite the Opposition before my budget speech for the sake of strengthening the democracy in the country."

He made it clear that no election reforms meant same mistakes in the elections. He thanked the ruling and allied legislators for passing the budget from the Lower House.

Imran Khan said federal minister Shaukat Tarin had presented the budget keeping in view the basic needs of masses. 

'Tough decisions were indispensable' 

PM Imran said the government's survival in its initial days was tough, as they had a huge current account deficit to deal with.

"The initial days of our government were very troubling and it was very painful when we had to take tough decisions that had and continue to have consequences for the people."

Citing the example of Turkey, the premier said when Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had come into power, even his government obtained loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and had to face a tough time for three years.

He thanked UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China to save Pakistan from defaulting by providing loans.

The premier lauded the National Command and Operations chief Asad Umar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, the Pakistan Army, and others involved in curbing the spread of coronavirus.

PM Imran Khan said Pakistan's coronavirus situation was better as compared to countries in the region and it was "due to Allah's blessings and the poor people's prayers".

The premier said inflation and unemployment shot up in countries where lockdowns were imposed, however, "we did not shut down everything and thus saved the people from such ordeals".

PM on agri-powered economic growth

He cited the government's "protection" of agriculture as well as record crop production for the 3.9 per cent economic growth rate in FY21. A big reason for the record crop production was the government's decision to make sure that farmers were paid the full support price on time, he added.

Talking about further measures his government had taken, he said: "We incentivised export industry and it grew 17pc in one year. Our exports in June were $2.7 billion which is an all time record for the month in Pakistan.

"We held negotiations with the construction industry and tried to give them incentives because when that industry starts running, then 30 related industries also start."

The government was "very clear about Pakistan's direction in the furture", the premier emphasised, saying the country's economic growth would be led by exports.

"One reason for an increase in imports is import of machinery. With time, we will reach record exports. We are also giving attention to small and medium industries (SMEs). The finance minister is looking at ways and devising a policy to give them loans and ease regulations.

Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and the government’s economic team for presenting a people-friendly budget (2021-22), which he said reflected his vision of Pakistan.

Imran Khan said when he founded the PTI 25 years’ back his vision for a welfare state was according to the Nazaria-e-Pakistan and the Objective Resolution, which the country’s founding fathered had dreamt for on the basis of the principles of Riasat-e-Madina, the first welfare state in the world.

He said history was witness to the fact that it were the strong principles of Riasat-e-Madina established by Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), which led to the fall of two big Roman and Persian empires only after 13 years.

The Prime Minister, however, added that when the Muslim world left those principles and went down, Europe emerged and came up by following the principles of the welfare state.

He said that since the PTI was founded on the basis of three principles i.e. Justice, Humanity and Self-Esteem, which was also included in the party’s vision-statement, he wanted the budget to reflect that vision.

The PM said that all the members of economic team working for the last three years deserved credit for the economic achievements made by his government.

Despite the inherited major challenges including the $20 billion of Current Account Deficit (CAD) and the fear of default his government stabilized economy through inevitable hard decisions which also hit the common man, he added.