Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf recently debunked PML-N’s accusations against it of nose-diving Pakistan’s economy. With a comprehensive comparison between FY2021 and FY2018, PTI put to rest PML-N’s frequent complaints of Imran Khan robbing Pakistan.
The comparison is based on statistical data by the State Bank of Pakistan and is making the rounds on Twitter with PTI’s official Twitter account sharing it.
As per the analysis, Pakistan’s economic performance for FY2021, under PTI was comparatively better. According to statistics, PTI exported $25.3 billion worth of goods, whereas PML-N exported $23.2 billion. Textile exports too witnessed a growth of more than $1 billion under PTI.
Read more: Pakistan’s Textile Exports: Growth and Trends
Moreover, with PM Khan’s vision for a Digital Pakistan, the country’s Information Technology (IT) exports also increased to $2.12 billion. Under PML-N, they were at a mere $1.06 billion.
During PTI’s reign, Pakistan recorded the highest ever remittances, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill announced in a statement. With a 34% increase from last year, in 2021, Pakistan’s remittances reached record levels of $29.4 billion. Even PM Khan took to Twitter to personally thank the Overseas Pakistanis for this remarkable feat.
The love & commitment of Overseas Pakistanis to Pakistan is unparalleled. You sent over $2bn for 10 straight mths despite Covid, breaking all records. Your remittances rose to $2.7bn in Mar, 43% higher than last yr. So far this fiscal yr, your remittances rose 26%. We thank you
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 12, 2021
Furthermore, Foreign currency reserves also improved substantially to $24.4 billion from only $16 billion in 2017-18.
Pakistan’s economic performance under PTI
One of the accusations that both PML-N and PPP frequently level at PTI is that under PM Khan, Pakistan took the highest debt.
“Imran Khan had promised to break Pakistan free from the debt trap, but since coming to power he has buried Pakistan under massive loans, taking the begging bowl everywhere he goes,” Bilawal Bhutto said in a statement in May.
However, as per the figures shared in the analysis, Pakistan’s debt under three years of PTI was $21 billion, whereas, under PML-N, it was $30 billion.
Read more: G-20 provides major debt relief to Pakistan
• Total Debt of Pakistan increased by Rs24000 Bn in last 10 yrs.
• Total Debt to GDP ratio was 86.3% & Public Debt to GDP was 72.1% by the end of PMLN Govt.
• Inflation in first year of PTI is 7% vs 8.6% of PMLN. – @Hammad_Azhar rebuts absconder Ishaq Dar's propaganda pic.twitter.com/13sZy9daXt— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 13, 2019
PTI even collected a very high tax revenue for FY2021. PTI’s tax revenue was $4372 billion, which is more than PML-N’s $3844.
FBR collected over Rs.410 billion during the month of July crossing the initial target for the month by 22%. This is another proof that under the leadership of Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI Pakistan is moving forward!
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 31, 2021
PML-N’s accusations against PM Khan
Members of PML-N have frequently accused the PTI government of corruption. Just recently, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi outrightly claimed that PM Khan’s government is doing corruption. He also said if he is made Chairman NAB, he will provide never seen before evidence of corruption.
Read more: Appoint me NAB Chairman: Shahid Khaqan
Miftah Ismail is also very vocal with his criticism of PTI. Last year Miftah Ismail tweeted a scorecard on PTI, which was retweeted by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
PTI scorecard
Sugar scam: Corruption
Atta scam: Corruption + Incompetence
Medicine scam: Corruption
LNG High Cost & Shortage: Incompetence + Negligence
Pesh BRT: Corruption + Incompetence
Highest Budget Deficit: Incompetence + Indifference
Highest Circular Debt: Incompetence— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) December 13, 2020
Recently Miftah Ismail retweeted an article by Business Recorder on Pakistan’s Poverty Line. As per the article, currently, 40% of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. Members of PML-N remain consistent with their narrative of Pakistan’s dire economic conditions under PTI.
Maryam Nawaz too often lashes out at PM Khan and his initiatives for Pakistan’s economy. Earlier this year, she called Imran Khan the “biggest thief.” She also called PTI’s foreign funding case the “biggest fraud in Pakistan’s history”.
Opposition’s accusation racked up significantly after PTI’s budget announcement. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif got together to accuse PTI of distorting the figures to present a successful picture of Pakistan’s economy.
“All opposition parties in parliament have decided we will give a tough time to the government and expose it, the false figures they’ve shown and the distortion [in numbers] they’ve done,” Shehbaz Sharif said.
Read more: Budget FY22: Good start but still a long way to go
However, with the recent comparative analyses of PTI and PML-N’s economic performance, PTI may be on its way to debasing the opposition’s claims.