Fuel subsidies: PML-N govt gets allies’ nod for tough economic decisions

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government has gotten the nod from its key allies for taking tough economic decisions including fuel subsidies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held one-on-one meetings with the top leaders of the PML-N government’s key allies yesterday.

He held meetings with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

The coalition partners have assured PM Sharif of backing the tough economic decisions of the PML-N government besides taking other steps to end the political turmoil in the country.

PM Sharif is also scheduled to chair the federal cabinet meeting today in which he will take the members into confidence on the decisions taken in the London meeting.

Why PML-N govt continues fuel subsidy without having sufficient funds?

The development came after the federal government deferred the hike in the prices of the petroleum prices, continuing the fuel subsidy to wait for getting the coalition partners’ nod. The government is reportedly bearing the burden of Rs100 billion a month due to the fuel subsidies which also blocked the passage of receiving another tranche of loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

PPP, JUI-F and MQM-P leaders have given statements to confirm the development for giving go-ahead to the PML-N government to take tough decisions and vowed to bear the pressure together.

وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف سے متحدہ قومی مومنٹ پاکستان کے کنوینر، رکنِ قومی اسمبلی ڈاکٹر خالد مقبول صدیقی کی ملاقات.
ملاقات میں موجودہ ملکی سیاسی صورتحال پر گفتگو اور تفصیلی مشاورت. pic.twitter.com/uVhQD0jnx2

— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) May 16, 2022

The greater the delay in making economic decisions the greater its political cost
A decision delayed is not a problem avoided; it’s a crisis invited
Announce electoral reforms & hold elections. Foremost reform: Level playing field to everyone, no midnight calls from No Caller ID

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) May 16, 2022

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) top leader Khalid Magsi also greenlighted the coalition government for the economic decisions in the national interests.

Moreover, the PML-N central leader and ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar, who is presently in London with Nawaz Sharif, okayed the government to fearlessly make decisions to tackle the economic challenges.

Coalition partners’ role

Earlier, News360 reported that PML-N is witnessing the aftermath of racing to get power by toppling the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by former prime minister Imran Khan primarily on the advice of PPP’s co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari who had asked the then major opposition party to lead from the front after the success of no-trust motion.

Miftah Ismail complains about fuel subsidy burden; Hammad Azhar presents solution

The ruling party failed to make a visible change in governance and policies of the previous government led by Imran Khan as yet despite holding the most powerful ministries in the Centre and Punjab, even though it is still reluctant to end fuel subsidies approved by the previous regime.

the economic crisis has started worsening to its peak due to the subsidies but the present regime is seemingly confused about taking any bold decisions to come out of the crisis.

Analysts elaborated that the PML-N, as the ruling political party, made a loss-making deal by accepting to hold key ministries following the advice of the PPP’s top politician Asif Ali Zardari as it is facing disastrous outcomes on political and economic grounds.

They said that the ruling party is also expected to face more troubles in the hands of the coalition partners including PPP, Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui-led Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan Awami Party (PPP).

Economic catastrophe: Asif Ali Zardari pushes PML-N in a blind alley

“PPP has stakes in Sindh province, JUI-F in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, MQM-P only in Karachi and BAP in Balochistan province. In the upcoming consultations, the coalition partners will definitely recommend the PML-N to carry on hiking petroleum prices, however, the major dent will be borne by the ruling party by facing severe public outrage over the new wave of inflation.”

The analysts were of the view that Asif Ali Zardari has cleverly pushed PML-N to the frontline to face the public pressure if it takes any kind of tough economic decisions.