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Thursday, November 21, 2024  
19 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446  

Army should remain apolitical, says PML-N’s Afnan Ullah

Economist Farrukh Saleem cites Pakistan has no other option other than IMF

The PML-N never talks of being on “one page” and always believed that the army and agencies should remain apolitical, N-league Senator Afnan Ullah Khan said on Tuesday.

“They also feel the brunt of political situations when these institutions get involved in politics. We have witnessed that recently,” he said on the Aaj News show Faisal Aap Ka.

Khan was of the view that an elected government with a simple majority is also essential for stability. “The PML-N has provided relief to the masses and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.

Without naming the PTI, he said that a party is trying to malign the country on a global stage. Its leaders are writing letters to foreign government officials and lying about the conditions of Pakistan, he added.

“How will foreign investors come to Pakistan when there are people who are discouraging the foreign investors from coming to the country,” the PML-N senator lamented.

PPP’s Shehla Raza said that Pakistan’s political and economic environment could not stabilise as every institution has always “stepped out of its domain and intervened” in the political system.

“The question about the political stability should not be asked just from the politicians, but also from those institutions which have interfered in the political system,” she said.

All the institutions are bound to serve within their boundaries, she added.

Economist Farrukh Saleem said that economics and politics are historically interlinked. “The two principles for the development of the economy are political stability and consistency in policies.”

Although it is not clear who will lead the plan to revive the economy, the Pakistan Army is reported to participate in the economy’s revival plan, he claimed.

Saleem said that the foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan will likely hit zero at this year’s end after the debt repayment if Pakistan fails to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund.

“The SBP’s reserves are at around $4 billion, and we have to make a payment of around $900 million in June. During the period of July – December, we have to make payments of $4 billion, which are not subject to rollover,” he said.

According to the economist, there is no other option for Pakistan other than securing a deal with the IMF.

“The government claims of having a Plan B. If there is something like that, the finance ministry should share it with the Pakistan Stock Exchange, local and foreign investors,” Saleem stated.

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faisla aap ka

PPP

IMF

State Bank Of pakistan

International Monetary Fund

PML-N

Shaukat Piracha

Afnan Ullah Khan

Farrukh Saleem

Pak Army