Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui has called for a parliamentary investigation to ascertain the causes that led to economic downturn over the past 10 years.
Mr Siddiqui raised the concerns in a Senate session on Tuesday as Pakistan’s 220 million people are facing rampant inflation, with fast-depleting foreign reserves and a record fall of the rupee against the dollar. The South Asian country is scrambling to revive the IMF loan programme and seeking help from friendly states to avoid default.
The leader of the ruling party suggested a committee comprising lawmakers should be formed to investigate the economic slump of the country since 2013.
Slamming the political parties for engaging in the politics of blame game, he stressed on introspection to find the reasons behind the problems faced by the country.
Mr Siddiqui was of the view that economic downturn started after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted in 2017, highlighting that inflation rate was around three per cent and GDP growth was satisfactory at that time.
In a veil reference to the previous government of PTI in Centre, he said a system was imposed on the country through 2018 general election, ensuing the disaster.
