Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed on Saturday said that $5.3 billion IMF loan will not be used to meet budget deficit, saying it will be used to settle the past debts incurred on non-developmental expenditure by the previous regime.
Talking to reporters during his visit to the EMRA office, he said that the previous government spent the IMF and other loans on non-developmental expenditures and could not generate a single asset for the country from the money.
To a question, the minister said that the PML-N government has not conceded to any conditionality of the IMF to get the loan.
Outlining his government’s priorities, he said the government did not want to waste time on petty issues, adding that to overcome energy crisis, grapple terrorism and mobilise a static economy of the country were the top priorities of the government.
“The government has settled the circular debt in mere 30 days after coming into power while the previous government could not do this in 5 years of its rule,” he responded.
He said the government has increased the power generation from 9000MW to 13000MW. “Some 1,700MW electricity will be added to the national grid in the coming days,” he responded.
Regarding terrorism and other challenges, he said that the government would convene an all parties conference (APC) to which the heads of all political parties in the country will be invited, adding that the APC will provide an opportunity to evolve a unanimous strategy to quell terrorism in the country and it would have the backing and support of the nation.
He said the political leadership of the country will be briefed on the homework of the government and the input from the security agencies on terrorism.
The minister said that the government would develop consensus on terrorism and the strategy would have the ownership all political stake forces.
About intelligence sharing with the Sindh government, Rasheed said that the federal government was in complete unison with the Sindh government on the issue of peace, dispelling the impression that there were no differences with the center and the province.
He said that there were no divisions among political forces on establishing peace in all parts of the country, adding that PML-N, PPP, PTI, and JI wanted to see Pakistan a fortress of peace.
“If there are any differences, these are between those who want to make Pakistan a safe country and who those who want to unleash terror,” the minister said.
He said that the Sindh government is fully empowered to take decisions and the federal government would provide all kinds of succour and support, including intelligence sharing.
IMF loan only to settle past debts: info minister
