TTAP slams govt over ‘fake economic narrative’ | The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD:

Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) leaders on Thursday accused the government of misleading the public over the country’s economic condition, alleging manipulation of growth data, underreporting of trade deficits, and a worsening business climate that has driven major international firms out of Pakistan.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, former Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair said the ruling elite had deceived the nation by presenting an overly optimistic picture of the economy.

“We only present the truth about the economy,” he said.

“The government and the elite tell you something else. An impression is given that prime minister’s visits to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and China brought unprecedented prosperity.”

Zubair claimed that from 2022 to 2026, Pakistan would witness the lowest growth rate in its history, rejecting official claims of a 5.7 per cent GDP growth. “These figures are false. This government has become a nightmare for the people,” he remarked.

“The investment made in the past two years is the lowest in the country’s last 70 years.”

Zubair said the government underreported imports by $11 billion and failed to respond to the IMF about the discrepancies.

“This means both the trade and current account deficits were deliberately understated,” Zubair said, and urged accountability.

“[The government] should be ashamed [of itself.]. If it were the previous government, they would have been asked to resign.”

Speaking on the occasion, former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra said the government’s claims of economic stability were a “pack of lies”.

He noted that major multinationals had exited Pakistan, describing it as a devastating blow to investor confidence. “Those were among the world’s biggest corporations. Their exit reflects [government’s] policy failure,” he said, adding that there had been no significant investment in the automotive sector either. “People are suffering, yet there is no relief.”