Islamabad [Pakistan], April 19 : Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has accused the federal government of compromising the economic interests of 250 million Pakistanis to mask its perceived lack of constitutional standing.
According to a report by the Pakistani media outlet Dawn, Akram asserted that while international focus remains on Middle Eastern peace initiatives, the true marker of the administration's instability is the economic hardship currently faced by the populace.
The PTI leader argued that administrations lacking a genuine public mandate often bypass necessary structural changes. He claimed that a governing setup "standing on 17 seats while masquerading as 170" is fundamentally incapable of providing the stability or long-term vision required for the country.
Turning to the energy sector, Akram highlighted a contradiction in the government's approach to renewable energy. As reported by Dawn, he noted that while solar adoption had mitigated the severity of power outages, the public is now being punished by a regressive net metering policy.
He questioned if the authorities would stop transferring the financial burden of poor planning and unfavourable IPP contracts to the public, or instead shoulder capacity payments to meet regional price standards.
With the summer season approaching and electricity demand expected to surpass 30,000MW, the PTI secretary expressed doubt over the existence of a viable strategy. He questioned whether the nation should prepare for more excuses and inflated costs rather than actual relief.
Akram also dismissed official celebrations regarding reduced load-shedding linked to increased dam releases. He questioned whether such measures were aligned with the needs of the agricultural sector or were simply a panicked reaction to electricity deficits.
He further criticised the government for describing power cuts as "peak-hour relief", a term he labelled an insult to citizens already struggling with high costs.
Regarding fuel prices, the PTI spokesperson described the government's fiscal strategy as a "wag the dog" approach. According to Dawn, he pointed to a pattern of sudden price surges followed by selective freezes and abrupt reversals in levies following public outcry.
He emphasised that petroleum products have become a tax cash cow, with levy collections exceeding PKR 1,500 billion over the past year to cover the failure to expand the tax base.
Addressing the country's external financial status, Akram remained sceptical of the recent IMF tranche and the Saudi deposit rollover. He argued that these developments signify an ongoing reliance on foreign assistance rather than genuine economic recovery, despite official claims that this would be Pakistan's final IMF programme.
The PTI leader also raised alarms over the exit of multinational companies like AkzoNobel from the Pakistani market. He noted that this trend, alongside a reported 27 per cent year-on-year drop in investment, directly contradicts government narratives regarding improved investor sentiment.
Furthermore, Dawn reported Akram's concerns over governance failures revealed by the Senate Standing Committee. He noted that state bodies have parked approximately PKR 1,000 billion in commercial accounts rather than transferring them to the Federal Consolidated Fund, a situation he described as "autopilot economics".
Finally, Akram touched upon a humanitarian issue, expressing serious concern for the health of Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Following her recent eye surgery, the party has demanded that both she and Imran Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital for medical care under the supervision of their private doctors and family.