Former finance minister Miftah Ismail called the government’s decision not to raise the petroleum development levy (PDL) this month without IMF permission "reckless,” but added that what the PTI did to the economy was "unforgivable.”
Miftah responded to PTI leader Shaukat Tarin on Twitter, reminding him that his administration had breached the deal it had signed with the IMF by reducing fuel prices before of the no-confidence vote. "You committed to raise the sales tax to 17% but decreased it to 0%.” You committed to raise the gas charge by Rs4 to Rs30 per month, but you reduced it to zero. "You pledged not to grant amnesty yet granted it anyhow,” remarked the Miftah.
He added that the PTI government gave an ‘unfunded, unsustainable subsidy on petrol.’ He said the PTI nearly bankrupted Pakistan, however, when he took over and went to the IMF, the country was ‘saved’ from default.
"Not hiking PDL this month without IMF clearance is risky, but what the PTI did with the economy was inexcusable,” Miftah stated in response to incumbent Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent price drop announcement.
Tarin had tweeted screenshots of Miftah-related tickers in response to Dar’s homecoming and a decline in gasoline prices. According to the PTI leader, the Imran Khan-led administration has been "blamed for breaking IMF criteria.”
He further alleged that Miftah stated that the existing administration "did not wait for approval from the MD IMF before publicising the petroleum prices.” "Clear double language,” Tarin observed.
Dar lowered the price of fuel by Rs12.63 a litre earlier this week, providing huge comfort to the country’s inflation-stricken citizens, while both the PTI and PML-N leaders were discussing the recent decline in petrol prices. Dar stated that the decision to lower fuel prices was made following talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
