PTI condemns possible 'mini-budget' amid 'flood of inflation'
1. "Government cannot meet IMF targets," says PTI's Ayub; laments lack of constitutional, legal order in country
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) politician Omar Ayub has strongly criticized the government’s proposed "mini-budget," warning that it will exacerbate the country’s ongoing economic struggles.
“This government has failed to meet the IMF (International Monetary Fund) targets,” Ayub, the opposition leader in the National Assembly, told the media in Peshawar on Thursday.
An urgent IMF mission is set to visit Islamabad next week, urging Pakistani authorities to introduce a mini-budget for “course correction” after significant “deviations” from performance targets, according to *The News*. Sources revealed that the IMF's sudden visit was prompted by Pakistan's inability to convince the Fund about their plans for corrective measures during recent virtual meetings.
Criticizing the government for its failure to address the rising cost of living, Ayub said the country is grappling with an “onslaught of inflation.” He also expressed concern about the lack of constitutional and legal order in the country.
Pakistan’s average inflation rate stands at 8.7% for the current fiscal year, according to the Statistics Bureau, while the IMF has forecasted an average inflation rate of 9.5% for the year ending in June. The inflation rate in October was recorded at 7.2%, slightly higher than expected.
The finance ministry predicts inflation will ease to 5.5-6.5% in November; however, analysts caution that inflation may rise again in 2025 due to higher electricity prices and the anticipated impact of tax hikes announced in the June budget, which are set to take effect in January 2025.
Ayub also criticized the conditions of PTI founder Imran Khan in prison, alleging inadequate facilities, and voiced concerns over the detention of senior PTI leader Azam Swati on "unsubstantiated" charges.
Despite these issues, Ayub emphasized that PTI will continue to hold democratic protests against what he described as the government's mishandling of national affairs.
When asked about the U.S. presidential election, Ayub congratulated Donald Trump and reiterated PTI's commitment to strengthening relations with Washington.
Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election marked a remarkable political comeback, four years after his defeat in the White House, signaling a new phase in American leadership that could challenge both domestic democratic institutions and international relations.
