Sialkot: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that a quarter of Pakistan’s debt can be repaid by selling two golf clubs built on expensive government land. The minister acknowledged that the country is already bankrupt, and that the solution to the country’s problems lies within the country, and not with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Samaa TV reported. He also held the establishment, bureaucracy and politicians responsible for the current economic situation. Asif revealed that he has been in the Parliament for 33 years and has seen the politics of the country in disrepute in those 32 years. The PML-N leader also pointed out that the golf clubs were built on government land and selling two of them would reduce one-fourth of Pakistan’s debt, Sama TV reported.
Asif also condoled the loss of lives of jawans in the fight against terrorism, saying the security agencies were working tirelessly to tackle the issue.
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He claimed that terrorists were allowed to settle in the country two years back.
Asif also said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would announce major austerity measures across all government institutions to control the fiscal deficit by reducing government expenditure, The Express Tribune reported.
Meanwhile, the opposition also proposed the government to take some bold decisions and implement its austerity measures to get the country out of the economic crisis.
Leader of the Opposition Shahzad Wasim said the rulers have closed corruption cases worth Rs 1,100 billion and the people of Pakistan are paying the price. According to the news of The Express Tribune, he also expressed apprehension that the new budgetary measures will increase inflation.