ISLAMABAD: Blaming Imran Khan for inflation and present crises, Prime Minister’s Economy and Energy Coordinator Bilal Azhar Kayani has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has taken the country to the brink of bankruptcy. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Kayani said that the PTI was boasting of its economic success, whereas the truth was that Imran and his team were responsible for the economic disaster.

He claimed that Imran weakened the economy and inflation increased during his regime. He (Imran) said that he would commit suicide but would not go to the IMF. Kayani said that the PML-N took loans for development. But, no development work was done during the PTI era. He said 20 million people were pushed below poverty line during the PTI rule. The party also caused the current account deficit.

The coordinator said during Imran’s tenure, six million people became jobless. Imran government increased the debt by 78 percent, he added. He said instead of staying focused on economy, the ex-prime minister remained busy in political persecution and he didn’t care about public problems. Kayani said that the PTI backed out of its promises with the IMF, it caused sugar and flour crisis. The incumbent government managed the economy and restored ties with friendly countries.

He expressed the government’s commitment to improve country’s economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said macroeconomic indicators were improving and after the staff level agreement with the IMF Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves would increase. Kayani claimed that the present government averted the risk of default and now expecting increase in foreign exchange reserves after IMF deal and support from friendly countries. Counting on different measures by the incumbent government to improve economy, he said our current account deficit has decreased by 68 percent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year.