Muhammad Zubair Criticises Rulers Over Luxury Spending, Rising Cost of Living

ISLAMABAD:Muhammad Zubair Umar, economic spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Aain Pakistan, has criticised the government over what he described as excessive spending by the country’s political leadership amid rising poverty, inflation and unemployment.

Addressing a press conference, Zubair said around 120 million people in Pakistan were unable to afford two meals a day, while rulers continued to enjoy what he described as a luxurious lifestyle. He questioned whether such spending was justified in the current economic circumstances.

Referring to the controversy surrounding the aircraft used by the Punjab government, Zubair questioned an earlier statement that the aircraft had been acquired for “Punjab Air”. He asked where Punjab Air was and claimed that even after seven months, its name was not reflected in the relevant documents.

He also criticised the reported cost of a recent tour, saying officials had acknowledged that the visit had taken place and had cost around Rs30 million. He further questioned the reported use of expensive hotels during official travel. ([UrduPoint][1])

Zubair said Pakistan was also facing serious challenges in education and nutrition. He pointed to the estimated 25 million children who are out of school and cited a figure of around 40 per cent for child stunting, arguing that the state was failing to adequately fulfil its responsibilities in these areas.

He also criticised the lifestyles of the prime minister, chief minister and other ministers, saying that the government had recently announced austerity measures while continuing to ask citizens to make further sacrifices.

According to Zubair, electricity tariffs had increased substantially over the past four and a half years, while petrol and the prices of other essential goods had also risen sharply. He said people had accepted the economic hardship with the expectation that conditions would improve after a limited period, but claimed that living conditions had instead deteriorated.

The former governor further claimed that poverty and unemployment had increased significantly and said inflation had severely reduced the purchasing power of ordinary citizens. He argued that goods that previously cost around Rs18,000 could now require as much as Rs60,000, although he did not provide a source for the comparison.

On fuel prices, Zubair questioned why Pakistan’s petrol prices remained higher than those in Bangladesh despite references to the international oil crisis. He claimed in a recent social-media post that petrol was around 55 per cent more expensive in Pakistan than in Bangladesh and questioned why the difference existed. ([UrduPoint][1])

Zubair said the government needed to explain how it intended to protect ordinary citizens from rising prices while maintaining austerity and controlling public expenditure. His remarks were made in the context of the ongoing political debate over government spending, fuel prices and the economic burden on households.