Shehbaz's claims about inflation, unemployment an 'attempt at deception': Hammad

Islamabad: Brushing aside claims from the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif about rising inflation and unemployment, Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar said the Opposition leader's had made an attempt at deceieve masses. 

Had PTI followed the PML-N's policies after assuming power in August 2018, the country would have defaulted on its debt in October or November the same year.

“We rejected their policy and saved the economy and it led to an increase in the foreign exchange reserves and now were are projecting 5% growth.”

“The second occasion when we rejected their recommendation was during the coronavirus epedimic,” he said.

He said when Shehbaz returned from London after the Covid-19 hit the country, he recommended a blanket lockdown. “If we had done that, today the inflation rate in the country would have increased three or four folds,” the minister said.

“He was wrong then, and he is wrong now,” Azhar asserted.

He said inflation in the country was rising due to international price-hike, not because of government policies. Everything on the international market has become expensive, he said.

Azhar said once international prices came down, Pakistani consumers would also experience price reduction and some initial signs had already appeared.

He said people should be told the truth about inflation as well as the unemployment rate.

The minister said the country’s growth rate was at 5%, and an economy with a 5% growth rate creates plenty of employment opportunities. He rejected the claim that unemployment was on the rise.

He cited a recent World Bank report which, according to him, indicated that the number of people living below the poverty line in Pakistan has declined even during the “tough times of coronavirus” epidemic.

-- Govt expecting 5pc economic growth this year --

Separately, Minister Hammad Azhar said the government is expecting five percent economic growth this year due to its prudent policies.

In a video statement, he said the government made the national economy stable and a record increase in foreign remittance is being witnessed.

Pakistan has dealt with Corona pandemic in an effective manner and the whole world is acknowledging the policy decisions taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan in tackling the global epidemic, he expressed these views in response to a statement made by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on
economy and inflation.

Commenting on inflation in the country, the minister said the nation was facing this problem due to rising prices of all items in the international market.

Hamad Azhar said that Shehbaz Sharif has always and still sharing inaccurate figures about the economy of the country.

Hammad Azhar said the government will immediately pass on to the people the benefits of reduction in prices inthe international market and the general public will feel relief soon.

He said that according to the World Bank, the poverty rate in Pakistan has decreased and the economy is growing at a rate of five percent.

He said a five per cent growth rate means that unemployment is declining and the economy is growing.

The minister said that with the reduction in prices in the international market, the prices in the country will also come down.