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How much more damage can Pakistan sustain from the Shehbaz Sharif/PPP regime?

Economy shrinks from 6.1% to 0.3% under PDM govt’s watch
Curbs on imports leave industrial sector crippled

Pakistan’s economic growth rate plummeted to 0.3% in the outgoing fiscal year due to severe restrictions imposed on the imports in an effort to avoid sovereign default, leaving the industrial sector crippled with spillovers on the services sector.

The 0.29% growth rate is the lowest increase in the national output in the past four years that exposes the mismanagement of the economy that is highly insufficient to meet the needs of 250 million people.

Despite severe floods, the agricultural sector still posted 1.6% growth, beating all forecasts of contraction due to a devastating impact on crops. The industrial sector contacted by 2.94%. But the services sector -- the single largest sector in the economy -- showed nominal growth of 0.9%.

The government has missed all sectoral targets, thanks to its economic mismanagement that also caused massive layoffs and contributed towards the 59-year-high inflation rate of 36.4%.

The National Accounts Committee, in a controversial fashion, met on Wednesday night and approved the provisional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate for fiscal year 2022-23, ending on June 30. Planning Secretary Zafar Ali Shah chaired the meeting.

The outgoing fiscal year will be marked in Pakistan’s history as the one when the country had experienced devastating floods that washed away crops, a highly mismanaged economy and a steep fall in the purchasing power of the people due to the record inflation.

The government has inflicted heavy losses on the economy by devaluing the rupee and increasing the utility prices in the hope of the getting a deal from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In the end, neither the IMF programme could be revived nor could the economy be saved from disaster.

The provisional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate for the year 2022-23 is estimated at 0.29%, announced the planning Secretary after a meeting of the National Accounts Committee.

The government postponed the NAC meeting four times in one week due to disagreement over the increase in national output, according to the sources. Some officials of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shuttled from one office to another to reach a consensus, the sources added.

It is a recession in growth, but not an overall recession in economy, said Dr Nadeem Javaid, chief economist of the Planning Commission.

There was broad-based slump in the economic output, mostly because of the government’s mismanagement and also adverse impact of the floods. The GDP is the monetary value of all goods and services produced in a year.

The nearly 0.3% growth rate was far lower than the official target of 5% and in line with the estimates of the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Pakistan, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. All the institutions predicted the 0.2% to 0.8% economic growth rate.

The figure is provisional and subject to variations once the final results are available at the end of the fiscal year. The economic growth rate during the last year of the PTI rule was 6%, which was further adjusted by the NAC on Wednesday to 6.1%.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2418527/economy-shrinks-from-61-to-03-under-pdm-govts-watch
 
Years of progress in terms of our position in the civilized world put away in a few days by PDM Thugs.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When one man made the decision behind closed doors to remove our govt and bring back the same cabal of crooks who had been plundering Pak for three decades, it resulted in our economy tanking and going into a tailspin.<br><br>The statistics show that even an enemy could not have done… <a href="https://t.co/VCVZHy4Obm">pic.twitter.com/VCVZHy4Obm</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1662080527526920193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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FxAch8LWYAYOKvd
 

Mugur Khan khatarnaak thaa..now we know what they really meant. He was khatarnaak for their schemes and their control. He would have reformed all of them if he had managed a two thirds.

But here's the kicker. He would have given them a share. The economy would have grown and so would have the budgets. But he would have distributed it fairly..that's what they don't want..
 
The own goals continue...

#PDMThugs


==

Conservative Party MPs and peers are angry over being prevented from speaking with PTI chief Imran Khan, whose internet connection was reportedly disconnected for half an hour ahead of a Zoom call he was meant to have with nearly 20 British politicians.

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, tweeted a screenshot of Conservative politicians in a Zoom meeting room with former adviser Zulfi Bukhari, saying that Mr Khan was set to join the call “when, without warning, Pakistan’s telecoms authorities cut off internet connections to his compound”.

She expressed concern about the “deteriorating” economic, political and securi*ty situation, and called for the release of po**li*tical prisoners and journalists in Pakistan.

Azeem Ibrahim, one of the participants of the meeting who also helped arrange the call, told Dawn the MPs were “angry and annoyed” that they were unable to speak to Mr Khan.

PTI USA looks to lobby Senate after lawmakers write to Blinken over ‘suppression of opposition’ in Pakistan

“The initiative was taken by Lord Daniel Hannan who is very thoroughly interested in Pakistan and has met Imran Khan during his visits there,” Mr Ibrahim, research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, told Dawn.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere was a Conservative MEP from 1999 to 2020, and is now president of the UK’s Institute for Free Trade.

Zulfi Bukhari helped arrange the call with Mr Khan, and the “the idea was to get members of parliament together to get a briefing directly from Imran Khan about what is happening”.

The participants were unable to speak with Mr Khan as his internet connection was cut, and instead ended up speaking with Mr Bukhari — who informed them that Mr Khan’s internet had been cut around 6pm Pakistan time — and asked him a series of questions.

“The purpose was not to support PTI or Imran Khan but just to understand what’s happening. There is a deep concern among British politicians about the degradation of democracy in Pakistan,” he said, adding that it was not just about Mr Khan but abo*ut the “overreach of the military in general”.

He added, “Some of the MPs were very angry and annoyed, and agreed that we should make a statement that British parliamentarians have been prohibited from speaking with Mr Khan, and that this is not acceptable. They all were very upset, as they are very senior with very busy schedules,” he said.

He also pointed out that “many of these MPs have very large Pakistani constituencies”. Mr Ibrahim said in his meetings with other parliamentarians on all sides, he has seen the deep concern about what’s happening in Pakistan “even if they don’t express it publicly”.

“This is not about Imran Khan. Some [MPs] are supporters of Nawaz Sharif or were big fans of Benazir Bhutto. The concern is more about the crisis in Pakistan right now.”

“This is… about how authorities are behaving which is disturbing. It does not serve Pakistan and is hugely damaging in the long run if free and fair elections are not held and journalists continue to be harassed,” Mr Ibrahim said.

Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, another call participant, said she was invited to the call by Lord Dan Hannan to see “different perspectives on what is happening in Pakistan”.

The British government has expressed its support for democracy and elections in Pakistan, but thus far has refrained from making any direct comments on Mr Khan’s arrest and the subsequent crackdown.

Two weeks earlier, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during PMQs was asked to comment on the ongoing crisis in Pakistan. He responded by saying that the UK and Pakistan has a “longstanding close relationship” and that the arrest of Mr Khan is an “internal matter”.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) did not respond to a request for comment. Authorities in Pakistan regularly curtail access to cellular and data services for security reasons, such as during the recent unrest following May 9, but it was not clear how official machinery could restrict individual internet connections at private residences or compounds, as Mr Khan alleges.

Anwar Iqbal adds from Washington: Over the last 10 days, the PTI team held three meetings with Senator Bob Menen*dez, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. They also briefed the Senate Sub-committee on South Asia.

In the United States, the PTI is moving its campaign from the House of Representatives to the Senate, which has a greater say in external affairs.

On Thursday, a PTI team met Senator John Cornyn, one of the senior most Republicans in the House, and plans to approach others as well.

Their goal is to persuade the senators to send a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, requesting him to use his influence to “protect democracy in Pakistan” and to persuade Islamabad to hold fair and free elections.

Earlier this month, 69 members of the House sent a similar letter to Mr Blinken, which also sought his help to stop the Pakistani government from “suppressing the opposition,” as a PTI leader Atif Khan said.

The Foreign Office recently rejected the letter, saying it did not agree with the characterisation of the events of May 9 and the situation in Pakistan, as reflected in that missive.

Last month, PTI USA also succeeded in raising the issue on the floor of the House when Congressman Brad Sherman spoke on the current situation in Pakistan. Now they are seeking a full debate in both the House and the Senate.

Published in Dawn, May 27TH, 2023
 
Pakistan now heading for economic meltdown.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dollar selling at Rs 310 in the open market and there's record backbreaking inflation in the country right now.<br>While our debt is accumulating at the fastest rate ever, the economy is shrinking.<br>All our annual tax revenue collections do not even cover the interest that we have to…</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1662427174245220353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looks like Imran Niazi's understanding of the economy and the broader environment in which it operates is quite limited. He also conveniently forgets his own role in deepening economic challenges. From scrapping the IMF deal, he has always wished Pakistan to default. This is in…</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1663216996907991046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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To @OfficialDGISPR @PTAofficialpk @CMShehbaz

One shouldn't need to give such silly "credentials" but I'm from an army family, I've headed [MENTION=2727]Pasha[/MENTION]ORG, am an investor in our IT sector & not a member of PTI

This is the real-world impact of blocking the internet & your actions:

1/7
A PK startup was raising funds in a major foreign city.

The investors liked them but asked how can PK just close the net for a week.

"I guess your whole country is like Indian Kashmir. Must be pretty hard to build anything. We'll wait & re-evaluate your market in 2024/25"

2/7
Dozens of startups & large businesses share such stories daily, as their global clients, partners & investors have started looking at backups & options outside PK, due to unpredictable internet blackouts & zero visibility on elections & $ instability

Death by a 1000 cuts!

3/7
Despite the brain drain, our professionals & youth are trying their best to build a future & put PK on the global economic map

Your decisions are like a ball & chain pulling us into quicksand.

Used to be 2 steps forward, 1 step back
It's now 1 step forward, 10 steps back

4/7
Especially to @OfficialDGISPR

This may fall on deaf ears but if you don't believe people like me, pls step outside your bubble of
yes-men & ask your own family, relatives working abroad & childhood friends who you trust will speak the truth

Pls ask the COAS to do the same
5/7
With every new threat to "national security" you'll shut things down & pull us further into this abyss.

For locals & foreigners, the elephant in the room is the election date & a new civilian gov.

Until then, our lives & economy are simply on hold as the world moves on.

6/7
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan was 129 out of 140 countries in the rule of law index before the crackdown on PTI was unleashed with an assault on our fundamental rights never experienced before by the nation.<br><br>Today we have fallen to the levels of Myanmar and Sudan where might is right is the law.…</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1663816693766840321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said political and economic stability of the country is the topmost priority of the PDM led coalition government, ARY News reported.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, she said the government is determined to control inflation and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is himself monitoring the relief measures so that their benefit reaches the common man.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is Dr. Hafeez Pasha, Pakistan's leading economist, assessing PDM’s disastrous economic performance. <br>On the one hand, we have record-high inflation 38% (highest in Asia), and on the other our total revenues don’t even cover our interest payments. <br><br>Here are some stats… <a href="https://t.co/jbhQ9H8q7t">pic.twitter.com/jbhQ9H8q7t</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1664625362960109574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chairman Imran Khan talked to Bloomberg, where he speaks of an "unprecedented crackdown" on PTI.<br><br>The regime in Pakistan has denied constitutionally mandated elections, defied the Supreme Court, gagged media, and violated rights: all to avoid elections.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanUnderFascism?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanUnderFascism</a>… <a href="https://t.co/Q0r8SjJAe4">pic.twitter.com/Q0r8SjJAe4</a></p>— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1665744654300598272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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As they say, baysharmon ko sharam ka kiya pata?

Sharif and Co destroying Pakistan as we speak.

==

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is how economy of a country is destroyed when the PDM regime type puts personal interest over national interest! <br><br>In just one year, every indicator shows the destruction happening! <a href="https://t.co/H4olQ09x6p">pic.twitter.com/H4olQ09x6p</a></p>— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1667040692395278336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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As they say, baysharmon ko sharam ka kiya pata?

Sharif and Co destroying Pakistan as we speak.

==

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is how economy of a country is destroyed when the PDM regime type puts personal interest over national interest! <br><br>In just one year, every indicator shows the destruction happening! <a href="https://t.co/H4olQ09x6p">pic.twitter.com/H4olQ09x6p</a></p>— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1667040692395278336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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PTI should avoid sharing fabricated figures by the government. Even the IMF doesn't believe them.

Growth isn't in the positive, it's in the negative.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How in one year the regime change operation has done more damage to the people of Pakistan than any enemy could have ever caused.<br><br>What’s worse is that no one is being held accountable for this crime against the people of this country. <a href="https://t.co/oTZoVc4AD5">pic.twitter.com/oTZoVc4AD5</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1667162378289463297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How in one year the regime change operation has done more damage to the people of Pakistan than any enemy could have ever caused.<br><br>What’s worse is that no one is being held accountable for this crime against the people of this country. <a href="https://t.co/oTZoVc4AD5">pic.twitter.com/oTZoVc4AD5</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1667162378289463297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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PDM photo is hilarious :)) but see this is the problem he is only putting his photo as PTI.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How in one year the regime change operation has done more damage to the people of Pakistan than any enemy could have ever caused.<br><br>What’s worse is that no one is being held accountable for this crime against the people of this country. <a href="https://t.co/oTZoVc4AD5">pic.twitter.com/oTZoVc4AD5</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1667162378289463297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The drop in GDP per capita is the most significant metric amongst all. With a GDP per capital at $1,568 Pakistan is amongst the worst performing countries in the world well below the likes of Bangladesh at $2,468, Sri Lanka $3,362, Indonesia $5,016 and even worse than African countries like Nigeria $2,280 or Zimbabwe $1,851.

This metric effectively mean the value of an average Pakistani is now more worthless than before. A drop of $200 in GDP per capita in a single year is quite a pathetic performance beyond any doubt.
 
And the destruction of our country continues:


==


Inflation across the country continued to break all records as the annual rate accelerated 39.26% while the weekly one crawled up by 0.21%.

As the federal government announced its budget with the promise of providing relief to the poor people and taxing the rich, the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday revealed that the prices of 21 essential items witnessed an increase this week.

Among individuals earning a monthly income ranging from Rs17,733 to Rs22,888, the inflation rate stood at 41.06%. During the recent week, the prices of 21 essential items saw an upward trend, while that of 10 items witnessed a decrease. On the other hand, 20 commodities’ prices remained stable.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not sure which world he is living in. PSO & PLL are having difficulty opening L/C's for fuels due to rising circular debt. WACOG that PTI passed in Feb 2022 has still not been implemented.<br>Last 14 months saw unprecedented gas load-shedding & tariff rises. <a href="https://t.co/DeQ0UTZh1V">https://t.co/DeQ0UTZh1V</a></p>— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hammad_Azhar/status/1670434879534661638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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They will only leave govt. Once Pakistan is bankrupt which is looming, as per reports one school of thought from PDM wants to give relief (temporary) to common man once the current ImF deal ends on June 30th by reducing commodity price and fuel price there by making things more tough for next setup, this is their vision and Pakistan had enemies on 3 borders
 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">While Pakistan is struggling to secure $1.1 Billion from the IMF, in last one year just the loss in exports earnings and workers remittances has been $7.15 Billion.<br><br>Also this means, while dollar earnings are going down, our debt is accumulating rapidly.<br><br>Those who were involved… <a href="https://t.co/4M2eBHVCUk">pic.twitter.com/4M2eBHVCUk</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1670643288758538240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The government’s inability, ill planning and financial woes have multiplied the miseries of electricity consumers who are facing up to 10 hours load shedding across the country, in addition to higher electricity bills.

Informed sources told Business Recorder that on Friday noon electricity demand was about 29,800 MW whereas supply was 23,245 MW, showing a wide gap of over 5500 MW, which is being managed through scheduled and unscheduled load shedding. Besides, consumers are paying heavy electricity bills ranging from Rs 40 per unit to Rs 50 per unit including surcharges and other taxes.

The government is also mulling to raise base tariff between Rs 4 to Rs 5 per unit from next fiscal year (July onwards).

Business Recorder
 
Time and tide wait for none.

While SS becomes the boot licker #1 after the draconian ammendments & extn. This will definitely not sit well with chances of Billo & Nani eyeing that PM seat.

they will eventually fight with each other , obviously country will be damaged
 
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