Govt on a collision course with the people, says Sherry Rehman

Islamabad: PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman said Friday that the speeches the ministers gave today have painted a bizarrely inaccurate picture of the unprecedented and harsh ground reality.

“We are facing a terrible economic crisis in real terms on the ground with spiralling food prices but here we are told Pakistani agriculture is booming. There is no respite in sight for the average citizen whose disposable income has shrunk alarmingly, but the government is only focused on waging a “narrative” war,” she said while addressing the Senate.

“For the first time in Pakistan’s history, wheat is being imported at a shocking $383.50 per metric ton/Rs65 per kg. For a country which was once self-sufficient in wheat production during PPP’s government, it’s a shame that we are importing it now and that too at such exorbitant rates. Not only did the PPP government make Pakistan food secure but it also maintained a robust food trade balance (high exports & low imports). Unfortunately, under the current government, Pakistan’s food trade balance has soared to a whopping negative -$3,965 million, mainly due to sugar and wheat imports. So, why is the PTI government celebrating a wheat boom?” she questioned while discussing the costly wheat import.

Highlighting the importance of a joint session on Afghanistan, Rehman said, “There’s a humanitarian disaster unfolding in Afghanistan. What is our strategy for the spill over in Pakistan? A unified position could help Pakistan effectively tackle challenges that could arise because of the evolving situation in Afghanistan as what happens in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan. It blows back into Pakistan. The British parliament met immediately on this issue, as did the US Congress, so where was Pakistan’s parliament amidst all this? A joint session to discuss the unfolding situation in Afghanistan is the need of the hour, but unfortunately this government only holds sessions to bulldoze bills, unlike the PPP government”.

“From ECP to the media, all our independent institutions are challenged or being dismantled. Government’s tirade against the Election Commission of Pakistan is absolutely shameful. It is obvious that EVMs are being brought in for pre poll rigging. Then 16,000 government employees were sacked and sent home as a result of a Supreme Court order and the PMDA, but no one from the government even came out to meet them and listen to their grievances when they were protesting outside the parliament in extreme heat. It was only the opposition who went to speak to them and offer them water,” she added.

Discussing PIA’s abysmal performance, Rehman said, “We have been told in a Public Accounts Committee meeting that from November PIA will not be getting bridges to board passengers, nor will they be able to get power supply for the aircraft because CAA has decided to stop the provisions of airport services to PIA owing to non-payment of dues. Ironically, in the same meeting we are told that PIA is making a profit. Why is it that only the government can see the profit? I hope the cost cuts are reviewed and facilities are not cut off. As if the EU ban on PIA was not enough, now passengers will also have to suffer through this”.

“This government is on a collision course against any open society, democracy, media, and against its very own people. Instead of making life difficult for people, let them breathe freely. PTI government has been ignoring the signs of a crumbling economy only to boost their image and take credit for projects which they have not even initiated, like the BISP which the PPP had introduced and implemented. The economy on a ventilator and the government needs to start taking responsibility,” concluded Vice President PPP, Senator Sherry Rehman.