Business Recorder [Pakistan’s First Financial Daily]
In summary:
– Prime Minister says long years of dictatorship have plunged the country into crises
– According to him, there’s a flour shortage, load-shedding, terrorism and extremism, restoration of judges, economic and, above all, the inflation and unemployment which have their roots in the past
– Believes high inflation is the result of running the country by printing money and heavy borrowing from the State Bank of Pakistan
– Asks traders, industrialists and investors to make maximum investment in Pakistan
– Seeks people’s support and co-operation by saying that reduced consumption of fuel and edible oil can save billions of dollars in foreign exchange, reduce trade deficit but also gradually reduce the external debt
– Assures farmers that government will significantly increase the minimum wheat support price before sowing of the next crop
– Gives small growers good news that government will pay premium for them against crop loans
– Declares that govt is working towards increasing milk production to bring about a White Revolution
– Claims international companies are willing to invest $4bn in power sector.
This is all good, but the crucial question is can he deliver?
The performance so far has not been very encouraging.