The clairification was issued as a video by Information Minister Murtaza Solangi on X, who wrote that she had been forced to clarify her comments after they were blown out of proportion.

In the video, Akhtar said that she had said that many people ask her why she has taken up the job of finance minister in such challenging times.

However, she added that it was an honour to be able to serve Pakistan in such a time.

Reports had emerged that Akhtar told the Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance that she sometimes wonders why she took the job. However, reports said that she added that the comments had been made on a lighter note.

The meeting had made headlines as she was quoted as saying that the economy was in shambles due to an unstable political climate. She had also said that the agreement with the the International Monetary Fund had been inherited by her government and could not be altered.

She also told the committee that the state of the economy was worse than she expected and that the caretaker government would provide a roadmap soon.

The caretaker government is in the middle of a storm as protests continue across Pakistan over sudden rise in electricity bills.