Off The Record | Sadaf Abdul Jabbar | ARY News | 6th November 2023
#OffTheRecord #NawazSharif #ShehbazSharif #MaryamNawaz #IshaqDar #Lahore #imf #economyofpakistan
(Current Affairs)
Host:
- Sadaf Abdul Jabbar
Guests:
- Mian Javed Latif PMLN
- Dr Farrukh Saleem (Economist Analyst)
- Khurram Shahzad (Economist Analyst)
Will Nawaz Sharif be the next PM of Pakistan? - PMLN Leader's Reaction
Pakistan Economy Crisis - Kya Nawaz Sharif Kay Pas Koi Plan Hai?
Pakistan ne IMF ke diye huwe ehdaaf pooray kar liye?
Follow the ARY News channel on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/46e5HzY
ARY News is a leading Pakistani news channel that promises to bring you factual and timely international stories and stories about Pakistan, sports, entertainment, and business, amid others.
(Current Affairs)
Host:
- Sadaf Abdul Jabbar
Guests:
- Mian Javed Latif PMLN
- Dr Farrukh Saleem (Economist Analyst)
- Khurram Shahzad (Economist Analyst)
Will Nawaz Sharif be the next PM of Pakistan? - PMLN Leader's Reaction
Pakistan Economy Crisis - Kya Nawaz Sharif Kay Pas Koi Plan Hai?
Pakistan ne IMF ke diye huwe ehdaaf pooray kar liye?
Follow the ARY News channel on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/46e5HzY
ARY News is a leading Pakistani news channel that promises to bring you factual and timely international stories and stories about Pakistan, sports, entertainment, and business, amid others.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 It's been a lot of money to him. It's a little bit of the record. I said, I've got to get
00:16 out of the car. I'm going to get the program. election.
00:35 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
00:57 People's Party. People's Party.
01:06 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
01:23 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
01:43 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
02:00 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
02:18 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
02:35 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
02:50 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
03:08 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
03:35 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
03:59 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
04:25 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
04:54 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
05:24 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
05:53 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
06:23 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
06:52 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
07:22 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
07:51 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
08:21 People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party. People's Party.
08:50 Javed Latif, one more thing. Are your legal issues with Nawaz Sharif gone? You waited for him for a while. He came and got bail. The Nihili sword was finished. It's been 5 years since the election.
09:13 But he has conviction. Until he has conviction, will he have any problems? What are you doing?
09:29 Sadaf, you raised the level playing field issue in your conversation. You said you will talk about the free election. This is the basic question. This is what is being discussed in some communities.
09:48 Someone tell me, or explain to me, that two months ago, he said that Nawaz Sharif is not getting justice. He said that he was unjust to Nawaz Sharif by punishing him.
10:04 If he was unjust to Nawaz Sharif, then he should stay out of this process. Then his sympathies are with Nawaz Sharif. He is innocent. If he becomes part of this process, which was in 2017, then you feel in danger that people will not elect you.
10:29 This is not a level playing field. Secondly, if he wants to talk, then I will come to his side and say that the date of Nawaz Sharif's case should be fixed. A time frame should be given.
10:47 A case should be fixed for Imran Khan. A date should be fixed. A JIT should be made. A monitoring judge should be appointed on him. Justice should be done before the election.
11:06 There is no difference between the law and the law. There is no difference between the law and the law. And if I say to you, Sadaf, and I am very sorry to say this, that two days ago, there was terrorism at the Miyawali airbase.
11:22 And the terrorists, in some form or another, can you call them political workers? You can't. They have attacked our fate. They have harmed the state. So, will you call the people who attacked the Miyawali airbase on 9th and 10th May, political workers?
11:46 Will you not call them terrorists? Will you not put that mastermind in the box who planned this attack on the Miyawali airbase on 9th and 10th May?
11:58 Just fear God when you count Nawaz Sharif and a terrorist group equally and say that there should be a level playing field. And the level playing field should be for political parties.
12:11 Your complaint is from the People's Party, Mr. Javed Latif, when they talk about the level playing field. Obviously, everyone has condemned the 9th incident and it should not have happened. Very unfortunate.
12:21 But, you are saying that a monitoring judge should be appointed, the date of the cases should be fixed, the 9th incident, the party that is being blamed for all the issues, I am talking about PTI, so you think that the People's Party's complaint will be cleared because right now, they are demanding the level playing field.
12:43 No, I said that if there is a selection committee, then you can demand it, you can say it, but you are also saying level playing field and then this thing comes to your mind to fulfill your desire that people have to decide on the day of elections.
13:12 Who will be elected? The Prime Minister of Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, people have to decide, it is not me or you.
13:25 Yes, it is true that they talk about the level playing field, if they had talked about the level playing field in 2002, 2008, 2018, then today I would have understood that they are being unjust to everyone, so they raise their voice, but at that time no one raised their voice.
13:49 But today I am raising my voice, I say that there should be a level playing field for every political party, there should be fair elections, there should not be any kind of replay of 2018, but I am also requesting that the masterminds who attack the Miyawali Air Base,
14:13 will you call them political leaders, political workers? This is my question.
14:21 Let's see what action the court takes on this. Let's see, Mariam Aurangzeb Sahiba has given a reference to 2013, which is given by Noon League. We would like to ask this question in this conversation, what challenges are there that our country is facing at the moment and how ready are the communities for it?
14:45 Noon League, which is claiming that it will win the election, how ready are they? Let's hear what Mariam Aurangzeb is saying.
14:51 Pakistan Muslim League Noon is the only community that is ready for the election. All those things that were started in 2013, whether it is the relief of the people, whether it is the development of the country, happiness, peace, the end of terrorism, employment for the youth, everything will start the journey of development again.
15:09 The problems of Pakistan are such that everyone will have to come together, whether it is the corporate sector, whether it is the private sector, whether it is the political parties, all stakeholders, whether it is the judiciary, all people will have to come together and end the current problems in Pakistan.
15:23 Javed Latif, the biggest issue that was there for the last 16 months, which was your government, was the economic challenges, the tough conditions, petrol prices, dollar rates, what plan did you prepare to face these challenges?
15:48 And when you say that all political parties will find a solution to this, then the political parties will sit together and not stop the statements. How will you find a solution?
15:59 Sadaf, there are two parts of your question. The first thing is that you are talking about a 16-month government. I want to ask you that before the 14-month national government of 14 communities, was there happiness in Pakistan in the last 4 years?
16:21 Was there happiness in Pakistan? Was there no inflation in Pakistan? Were there no increases in Pakistan's loans? Was there no increase in corruption in Pakistan?
16:41 If there is no government of Imran Khan, then there will be no one to take its name. So what is the reason that the 14 communities, which ruled for 16 months, you are putting all the blame on 16 months, why not 4 years?
16:56 If you want to put the blame, then we have suffered the consequences of their 4 years of corruption. Sadaf, one second, please. If the policies of their 4 years of corruption, which ruined Pakistan, we could not have removed it in 16 months.
17:19 We could not have made Pakistan in 2017. Even after 14 communities united, the corruption was so much that it was more than its policies.
17:31 And I will say that today, the foreign powers and those powers that do not want to see Pakistan happy, why are they standing behind Imran Khan today? Why do they still raise their voice for Imran Khan?
17:49 Why do 60 members of that Congress write letters together? Why are the facilities available in Imran Khan's jail not less than a 5-star hotel?
18:04 And if they understand that they are being treated badly, then would any other prisoner, or we who used to go to jail, would we be treated like this?
18:21 Would anyone be treated like this? Luxury furniture, exercise machines, and breakfast in the morning would be made from goat milk, and at night, they would like to drink camel milk.
18:40 This is the news, Mr. Javed Lateef. You are adding to the information. Let me talk about the economy, because this will be the real challenge.
18:50 Mr. Javed Lateef, what plan have you prepared? You are saying that the challenges were less than 16 months. What is the plan now?
19:00 Look, Sadaf, when Nawaz Sharif was returning, you should have in mind that people kept asking questions, that they are meeting, when will they come, they are not giving a date.
19:16 Before Nawaz Sharif's return, all the plans were made to make Pakistan a Pakistan of 2017. We have completed all the homework to go to the elections.
19:33 We keep saying that there will be no seat adjustment in Punjab, no election alliance with any party, so our homework is complete, so we say this.
19:45 When I say that Nawaz Sharif will be the Prime Minister in the upcoming elections, then we have done the exercise mobilization that we wanted to do or should have done throughout Pakistan.
20:03 Today, the Nawaz Sharif's who are leaving after 10, you will see that our homework is complete, then those Nawaz Sharif's will return to Pakistan.
20:16 Mr. Javed Lateef, in Punjab, I will talk to you later about Sindh, will there be an alliance against the People's Party or not?
20:26 Who is your rival in Punjab, with whom will you compete?
20:30 In the past, our competition has been with the forces of the past, which is also in front of everyone.
20:42 So today, because the institutions are apolitical and this is the effect so far, I do not think that there is a party in Punjab that gives us such a tough time.
20:58 So, by the grace of God, we will clean sweep the whole of Punjab under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
21:07 Mr. Javed Lateef, the conversation of Mr. Ishaq Dar has been very important, especially with respect to the Patijay.
21:19 Whenever there is an election in Punjab, the questions are raised by the Jamaat, especially those who lose.
21:29 What is Mr. Ishaq Dar saying, let's see.
21:31 The credibility of the election is very important, but we must also predetermine.
21:35 At the end of the day, whoever gets a share, then we have to be honest with the heart.
21:39 It is not that after the election, we do not accept because we did not get the number of seats.
21:45 Whatever the election results are, we should all accept with an open heart.
21:49 Mr. Javed Lateef, do you think that after the election, all the Jamaats will accept the results with an open heart?
21:58 See, today's talks are from some Jamaats, not from some people.
22:05 It is not appropriate to say Jamaats because the people who are in those Jamaats also have a political approach.
22:13 They all know that such talks are held on election issues.
22:19 But I think that the elections that are going to take place today, and I will request all the state bodies that
22:31 all the fair and impartial elections that are going to take place in Pakistan,
22:41 they should be fair in every election, whether it is 2018 or 2022, all these elections should be fair.
22:52 But I would still say that there should be fair and impartial elections.
23:01 And what we see, we will take a clear path.
23:05 Despite this, the mind of Nawaz Shaikh, which I know, wants that despite the fact that we will not need any unity to govern,
23:15 we will still join all the political parties and take Pakistan out of this mess.
23:25 So that we can make economic decisions with consensus and give a happy Pakistan to the coming generations.
23:34 Mr. Javed Lateef, taking advantage of your presence, I would like to ask you,
23:40 because a statement of Asif Zardari has been circulated recently, that he is saying that he will not let Nawaz Sharif become the Prime Minister.
23:48 Was this statement really given or was it a statement of a desire? What is your party's opinion on this?
23:56 Mr. Javed Lateef, can you hear me?
24:04 Yes, Sadaf. Look, as far as this kind of conversation is concerned,
24:11 we have been shown small and big examples at different times.
24:18 Even today, I will say with great respect that if the people elect us,
24:26 then no one has the courage to become a hurdle in the way.
24:32 And if the hurdle in the way is made just so that we get a share,
24:38 then it is not appropriate to have such conversations in the democracy.
24:43 And as far as Nawaz Sharif's becoming the Prime Minister is concerned,
24:49 in the past, the people sitting in the Adars, some people, used to make the hurdle in the way of Nawaz Sharif.
24:58 They did not make the hurdle in the way of Nawaz Sharif, even after becoming the government.
25:03 But today, the attitude of the people sitting in the Adars,
25:07 they also think that we should support the person whom the people elect, even if he is Nawaz Sharif.
25:15 So, I think that neither Pakistan nor the state institutions are ready to replay the 2018 or 2002 elections.
25:26 So, when Nawaz Sharif becomes the Prime Minister, all these forces will stand with Nawaz Sharif.
25:33 Thank you so much, Mr. Latif.
25:37 We wanted to know what is the current situation, especially when the date of the elections has been announced.
25:43 We will take a break and come back after the break.
25:47 We will talk about the economic challenges.
25:53 Welcome back once again.
25:56 We are in Pakistan for the 2-weeks MF Mission.
26:00 We are having a review session.
26:02 We are also meeting on the ground.
26:04 We are also meeting with the ministries of treasury.
26:11 You may remember that when the matter was decided in the IIMS,
26:15 Pakistan had to take part in three stages.
26:18 One of the stages was to be held now and the other after the elections.
26:23 Before this, the IIMS asked for a report for assessment.
26:27 But, it has been asked for a time frame of December 2023.
26:32 What are the reasons behind this?
26:34 The IIMS has asked for a report on the losses of the state institutions.
26:38 Some institutions are subject to privatization.
26:42 They are under a burden on the country's economy.
26:46 We will talk about this.
26:48 Secondly, can the tax collection be as much as it should have been?
26:55 It was a big burden.
26:57 If the tax collection and the interest that we have to pay will be equal to the tax that we had set,
27:05 then what will be our position?
27:07 What are the political and economic challenges?
27:09 We have with us Farooq Saleem, an economist.
27:13 Thank you so much for joining me.
27:15 Khurram Shehzad, an economist, is also with us.
27:18 Khurram, I will start with you.
27:20 What is the status of the meetings and the issues that have been raised?
27:26 Have the goals that were set before the meeting been fulfilled in Pakistan?
27:33 Thank you.
27:36 The discussions that have been held so far, I think there are no issues.
27:43 Of course, the IMF review is not a cakewalk.
27:48 Basically, many aspects are brought forward.
27:53 One big aspect is that of currency.
27:56 How has the value of the currency improved?
27:59 How much will it sustain?
28:01 Is the dollar requirement more or less?
28:06 Is the currency showing its value correctly or not?
28:12 You must have seen that in the last week or 4-5 days,
28:16 the dollar has gone down by 3-4 rupees.
28:20 Along with this, we had to arrange some funding for some foreign affairs.
28:28 We have not yet received 4-5 billion dollars.
28:32 Of course, there are reasons for this.
28:33 The international market is also very tight.
28:35 There is a lot of bad thinking.
28:37 Our own problems are also in place.
28:40 Overall, this review will be passed.
28:44 As a result, we will have a review on 11-12-15.
28:50 After that, it will be sent to the board at the director level.
28:53 In December, we will get a tranche of 700 million dollars.
28:58 If you look at the broader picture,
29:00 the IMF understands that this is a transition phase.
29:03 It is a catered government.
29:05 Of course, the targets have been fulfilled.
29:08 But there will be some weaknesses and gaps.
29:11 These gaps are not new.
29:13 But I think this review will be passed.
29:15 The next review will be tough.
29:17 Because elections will be held.
29:19 Performance will be seen.
29:21 The new IMF program will be discussed.
29:24 I don't think this review will be a big issue.
29:27 The next review will be tough.
29:28 Mr. Farooq Salim,
29:31 you think that after the date of the election is announced,
29:34 the political situation will improve.
29:41 The economy will also improve.
29:45 How hopeful are you that the economy will improve after the date is announced?
29:50 And the political parties will focus on the economic plan.
29:55 How hopeful are you in this situation?
29:59 The IMF review has five conditions.
30:06 The Ministry of Finance, State Bank and IMF have agreed on these conditions.
30:13 The government of Pakistan has created a primary surplus.
30:17 The primary surplus has been fulfilled.
30:21 The second condition is that the rate between the rupee and dollar
30:25 is 1.25% in the interbank and open market.
30:31 This has been fulfilled.
30:33 The electricity rates have been increased.
30:35 The gas tariff has been rationalized.
30:38 Four out of five conditions have been fulfilled.
30:43 The condition that has not been fulfilled is related to external debt.
30:47 As mentioned, there is a gap of 4.5 to 5 billion dollars.
30:52 The government of Pakistan has never been able to meet this gap.
30:56 So, you can say that 80% of the agenda has been fulfilled.
31:00 Now, you are talking about the scenario after the election.
31:05 There is no doubt that the economic and political situation
31:10 have a deep connection.
31:16 The data that is being reviewed is from July to September.
31:22 The non-political government is making economic decisions
31:27 without any political influence.
31:32 The real question is whether we will be able to make economic decisions
31:37 after the election in the future,
31:40 by having political influence.
31:44 The political decision that has been made,
31:47 which did not have any political influence,
31:50 has shown strong results.
31:54 The biggest question is that when a political government is formed,
32:01 a political community or a civilized government,
32:05 will it be able to make economic decisions based on politics?
32:11 If not, then I do not see any economic work.
32:17 Khurram, let me come to you.
32:21 You said that the non-political government is a NIGRA set up
32:26 and there is no baggage on it.
32:28 The previous government used to say that we are making difficult decisions.
32:31 We are putting our political stake to save the state.
32:34 Whenever the petrol price was increased,
32:37 the NIGRA government used to say that it is related to the IMF.
32:42 But the NIGRA government has reduced the petrol price.
32:46 The difference in the dollar is also visible.
32:50 How can the NIGRA government make such decisions?
32:53 What was the previous government's obligation?
32:55 What is your assessment on this?
32:57 What will you tell us about the economic landscape?
33:00 What is the logic behind this?
33:02 You have already added a point to your question.
33:05 That is the answer.
33:07 A political government has a baggage.
33:11 It has a political consequence if it makes such decisions.
33:15 It looks at its constituency politics more.
33:18 It looks at the upcoming elections, especially when the elections are very close.
33:22 Any government looks at the money that we will go with today,
33:25 whether it is increasing the petrol price, increasing the gas price,
33:29 or devaluing the currency, increasing interest rates,
33:32 how much impact it will have, or taxing it.
33:34 These are the reasons why your vote bank is halted.
33:38 This has definitely been the case in our country.
33:40 This has been the case in the subcontinent.
33:43 Whether you look at India or Bangladesh,
33:46 the KTK government or the government that does not have a baggage,
33:50 you are absolutely right,
33:52 can definitely make such decisions.
33:54 That is why you saw that the KTK government adjusted the price of electricity,
34:00 gas, and currency.
34:03 But I am sorry to interrupt you,
34:05 because there is no concept of caretaker in the world.
34:08 Such decisions are made by political governments.
34:11 You are absolutely right.
34:13 But this KTK government is a little different from the previous KTK government.
34:17 Because they have been empowered.
34:19 When you give power, you also get responsibility.
34:22 Although, we still talk about privatization,
34:26 or we talk about the loss of state-owned entities,
34:31 or we talk about public-private partnership.
34:33 Progress is still left in that direction.
34:36 But these decisions, for which IMF, World Bank,
34:40 and donors were empowered to deal with them,
34:42 this government was empowered for this.
34:45 Otherwise, the KTK government does not have this function in Pakistan,
34:48 that it determines the policy,
34:51 or it does something that makes it feel that they have been here for a long time.
34:55 So, I think, the thing for which they were empowered,
35:00 some work was done in that,
35:02 in which IMF has to deal with them,
35:04 and IMF has to fulfill the conditions.
35:06 See, IMF has also given you a program,
35:08 between KTK government.
35:10 IMF gave it in 1998 or 1997 or 1998.
35:13 This is the second time in your history.
35:15 So, see, these are unprecedented measures,
35:18 and unprecedented work, as you say.
35:21 So, you will see in that context.
35:23 Although, KTK government does not have this work at all,
35:25 that it deals with IMF, or it addresses something in policy.
35:27 It only has one job, to get elections done on time,
35:29 and oversees it.
35:30 So, I think, where empowerment was needed,
35:32 it was done there, so they did this work to some extent.
35:34 Because of which you are seeing today,
35:36 a review is being done, and this review will be done through.
35:38 But see, what is my problem,
35:40 my concern is that,
35:41 the coming government,
35:42 the remaining three months are in your elections.
35:44 Even today, I don't see any political party,
35:46 who is thinking,
35:48 what is the depth of the problem?
35:50 There is no plan, there is no discussion on it.
35:52 There is no discussion on solutions.
35:54 You have to give 75 billion dollars,
35:55 only in loans, in the next three years.
35:57 Then, you have to run the country,
35:58 you have to bring investment,
35:59 you have to fulfill your debt,
36:01 you have to fulfill your fiscal deficit,
36:03 you have to fix the energy,
36:04 you have to fix your SOEs.
36:06 So, I don't see any plan,
36:08 we should talk about this,
36:09 that the coming government,
36:10 whether it is a minority government or a majority government,
36:12 does it have a plan,
36:14 does any political party have a plan,
36:16 that they should come and think about this,
36:17 or even, do they have the understanding,
36:18 what is the depth of the problem?
36:20 At least, they should diagnose this,
36:21 that there is a lot of depth to this problem,
36:23 we need to work a lot,
36:24 we need to plan,
36:25 if this doesn't happen,
36:26 then a lot of problems will arise.
36:27 This three to four month,
36:28 that you have got a breathing space,
36:30 this will be wasted.
36:32 Mr. Farooq Salim,
36:34 what would you say on this,
36:35 which Khurram said,
36:36 that really,
36:37 when we see American elections,
36:39 there is a presidential debate,
36:41 they tell us,
36:42 what will be their policy,
36:44 what will be the employment opportunities for the youth,
36:47 what will they do in the economy,
36:48 what will they do in the health sector,
36:49 education,
36:50 unfortunately,
36:51 if we talk about the education sector,
36:53 we are the last in South Asia,
36:55 according to the statistics,
36:58 how many children go to school.
37:00 Do you think,
37:01 these political parties look serious,
37:02 and what will be the challenges for the coming government?
37:05 Will it be necessary to take the youth along?
37:08 You have closed two or three questions,
37:12 the first thing is,
37:14 the political parties around the world,
37:18 they have three aspects,
37:21 on the basis of which they fight the elections.
37:23 Either they present statements,
37:26 they put statements in front of their voters,
37:28 or they put a statement,
37:30 that we had a government at a certain time,
37:32 and we delivered this and that,
37:34 or they have a future vision,
37:37 they tell us,
37:38 that at this time,
37:39 with your country,
37:40 with your society,
37:41 these are the issues,
37:42 and we will have the wisdom to solve them.
37:46 At this time,
37:47 the unfortunate thing is,
37:49 that all the big parties,
37:51 they have no statements,
37:53 they have no kind of activity,
37:56 the People's Party has been ruling in the centre for so many years,
38:00 they cannot keep a record of their activities,
38:03 in the same way,
38:05 in the form of PMLN or PDM,
38:07 the activities that have been shown in the last 16-17 months,
38:11 that too cannot be kept in front of the people,
38:14 and neither can any future,
38:16 any future,
38:17 any plan of action be seen.
38:20 So these are the problems with the country,
38:22 they should be identified,
38:24 and their solutions should be highlighted.
38:28 The problems are absolutely right,
38:30 Mr. Khurram,
38:31 they are very deep,
38:32 and the things that have been seen so far,
38:36 are administrative measures,
38:38 that is, they are administrative measures,
38:40 and no kind of policy has been seen so far.
38:44 So one need is that we differentiate between administrative measures and policies.
38:50 During the caretaker government,
38:52 many administrative measures have been seen,
38:55 as a result of which positive effects have also been seen,
38:58 positive results have also been seen,
39:00 but there is no kind of a strong policy.
39:03 If we ask what is the policy of the government,
39:06 that the budget deficit is going to reach 8000 rupees this year,
39:12 or what is the policy of any political party,
39:15 then a problem is seen in that.
39:18 If we ask how the difference in our import and export will be fulfilled,
39:24 according to that,
39:25 what is the policy on that,
39:27 then the policy is not seen.
39:29 So this is a serious,
39:30 serious kind of a problem.
39:32 We have definitely seen administrative measures.
39:35 Okay, and the five points you mentioned,
39:40 as you said that there is a demand,
39:42 a condition,
39:43 that is, how will external finance come here?
39:46 This was told to us in the beginning,
39:48 that once IMF comes,
39:49 then other countries will also be able to lend us,
39:52 funding will start from there too.
39:54 What do you think now,
39:55 why this could not happen,
39:56 what difficulties will come?
39:59 The financial year that is going on,
40:01 the IMF budget,
40:04 we need 27 to 28 billion dollars.
40:07 And out of that,
40:08 some 22 or 23 billion is either on rollover or is being arranged.
40:14 Two items are such in it,
40:16 one, the government of Pakistan said that
40:18 it will collect about 1.5 billion dollars from the euro bond,
40:22 and some 3 to 3.5 billion dollars will be collected from commercial banks.
40:26 So both these avenues,
40:28 it seems that the government of Pakistan will not be able to do it.
40:31 At the moment,
40:32 Pakistan is not in such a financial position
40:35 that it can collect 1.5 billion dollars from the euro bond market,
40:40 and there is no commercial bank at the moment
40:43 that will be able to give 3 to 3.5 billion dollars.
40:45 So this gap of 5 or 5.5 billion dollars,
40:49 I think that our Ministry of Finance does not have a strong plan.
40:56 And this is the issue that the IMF will raise,
41:00 and maybe it is still raising,
41:02 and we will have to arrange some answer to this.
41:07 Kulram, I come to you,
41:11 tell me, when the political parties go to the elections,
41:14 they hold gatherings,
41:15 and they have to tell the people that
41:18 what will we do if we come to power.
41:21 At the moment,
41:22 in your opinion,
41:23 in which position have the political parties expressed themselves
41:26 that they do not see any solid policy,
41:28 but their desire is that we will come and get you out of the clutches of the IMF.
41:33 Do you think it will be easy for the coming government,
41:36 or if someone promises,
41:37 it will be just a dream of a crazy person?
41:40 Sir, I think I will suggest this to all political parties
41:44 that no one should give this statement that we will get you out of the IMF.
41:48 Do not give this statement at all.
41:50 Because we have to go to the IMF program.
41:52 We have to go to the big program.
41:53 This was a bridge for you.
41:55 We have to go to the big program.
41:57 And I would say that we should go to the program
42:00 and go with full efforts.
42:03 Avail their program.
42:05 See, if the world is giving you money,
42:07 especially the IMF is giving you money in these circumstances,
42:10 then you should consider it a blessing and follow its program and correct yourself.
42:15 If someone is giving you money,
42:16 then correct yourself.
42:18 If he is giving you money,
42:19 and it is our fault that we have taken money from him 23-24 times
42:22 and we did not correct ourselves with his money,
42:24 then it is our fault.
42:25 So, I say that the political parties should think about their vision, direction and big thing
42:32 in their political pamphlets.
42:34 Where to take the country in 30, 40, 50 years from now
42:37 and what to achieve after every 3 or 5 years.
42:40 And I will tell you that the biggest issue now is inflation for a common man.
42:44 And the biggest problem to tackle inflation is the government's own borrowing.
42:50 The government is taking loans and spending so much.
42:53 So, first of all, the development programs in which you are used a lot in politics,
42:59 you know, the public sector development program,
43:01 through that you strengthen your vote bank.
43:04 I would say that you should reduce it.
43:06 You should reduce it, reduce energy losses, reduce your taxes.
43:09 On one hand, you should have investment which is export driven,
43:12 which will come from reducing your taxes,
43:14 which will come from doing business,
43:16 which will come from reducing interest rates.
43:18 On the other hand, you should reduce your borrowing.
43:21 When you reduce your bills, then your borrowing will be reduced.
43:23 When the borrowing is reduced, then the money will be printed less.
43:25 The inflation will be reduced.
43:27 So, this is the whole strategy.
43:28 Do not talk about IMF.
43:30 Do not talk about it.
43:32 Thank you so much Khurram, Shahzad, Farooq Salim.
43:34 Thank you both.
43:36 Let us see, now, in their opinion,
43:38 we will come out of this glass easily.
43:40 Let us take a break.
43:41 After the break, we will wind up the program.
43:43 Welcome back once again.
43:46 And now, we will see that as the elections are going on,
43:49 what the political parties bring forward,
43:52 especially the economic challenges that are presented,
43:54 the problem of the poor, what is their plan to solve it.
43:57 This is everyone's focus at the moment and everyone is keeping an eye on it.
44:00 Thank you for watching the program.
44:02 I seek your permission.