PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry admits that the part suffered a great political loss after coming into power. He made the comments during an interview on a private media channel.
While talking about Budget 2022-23, Talal Chaudhry said the budget was formed under extremely difficult circumstances. Talal Chaudhry said due to the budget, PML-N suffered a political loss.
Furthermore, Talal Chaudhry said PML-N had to think about Pakistan’s future and save it from a Sri Lanka-like situation. To clarify, Sri Lanka is undergoing a severe economic crisis that has transgressed into a humanitarian crisis. The country is facing acute shortages of food, fuel, cooking gas, and medicine.
Read more: Sri Lankan Crisis: A lesson for Pakistan
Talal Chaudhry also said no country would have held talks with Pakistan if an interim government had come into power. Therefore, PML-N had to think about the national interest at the expense of the party’s political standing.
PML-N’s popularity declining?
PML-N’s popularity has certainly declined ever since it came into power. It had already become the target of public backlash when it brought the controversial no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, it is also facing criticism for its governance policies. Since the PML-N came into power, inflation in Pakistan has skyrocketed. Petrol prices increased by Rs 60 in one week. Prices of basic commodities like wheat and cooking oil also increased. The inflationary pressure has burdened the public which is struggling to make ends meet.
Recently, the PML-N led government announced Budget 2022-23 which offers very little to the public. The budget stated a 15% pay raise for government departments’ employees whereas the majority of the public works in the private sector.
Read more: Remittances decline as Overseas Pakistanis stop sending money?
Furthermore, taxes were also increased. Interestingly, the government had given relief to the salaried class earning up to Rs. 1.2 million per annum. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rejected the proposal, and now the government is left with no option but to consider making changes to the proposal.
PML-N is certainly trapped in a tough situation. In case of an early election, it is possible that PTI will defeat PML-N.