ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that next general elections in country "will be held on time," that is after August 2023. "Let me make it absolutely clear that next elections will be held on time," PM Shehbaz told Anadolu Agency in an interview. He was responding to questions about his predecessor and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan's demand for early elections.

"This government came into being through constitutional process and enjoys mandate of people of Pakistan," he added.

"Term of current National Assembly will end in August 2023 to be followed by establishment of an interim government that will hold elections," he explained.

Present coalition government has "representation of all political parties of country except PTI and is busy dealing with issues of great importance."  He said Pakistan's economy "was facing multiple global and domestic challenges" and was "on verge of financial collapse" when he assumed charge. "Economic policies of previous government were not pro-growth and led economy to multiple challenges,

"Pakistan's economy was facing excessive monetary tightening, supply-side shocks, lingering endemic effects, waning investors' confidence, high inflation and effects of Russia-Ukraine conflict," he said.

However, Shehbaz said his administration had adopted "mix of policies to tackle economic downturn by accepting fact that we have very short time to step back from edge of bankruptcy and financial collapse." "No doubt, some of our policy options like withdrawal of untargeted subsidies, had added to cost to economy in short term. But, most of our policies are more likely to offer benefits in longer term," he said. "We are also aware of fact that our current course of action is hurting most vulnerable and marginalised in society but we are taking care of them by announcing targeted subsidies and other relief measures," he said.

He said revival of IMF programme and "active engagement with bilateral and multilateral partners" had eased pressure. To tackle economy, he noted that his government took measures to reduce import bill, current account deficit and pressure on Pakistani rupee. PM Shehbaz, however said massive floods that hit Pakistan early this year "caused great deal of suffering."

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 28 2022

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