PTI Says Ahsan Iqbal’s Statement Is a Crude Attempt to Hide Government Failures

**Islamabad (Qudrat Daily):** Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly reacted to the statement of Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, terming it a crude attempt to distort facts and conceal the current government’s severe administrative, economic, and law-and-order failures.

In a statement issued by PTI’s Central Information Department, the party said that the ruling coalition is trying to mislead the nation through false claims of development and baseless allegations, but this formula has now lost its effectiveness. The statement added that the nation is fully aware that Pakistan’s economy was on a path of growth and stability under the leadership of Imran Khan.

According to PTI, during the period from 2018 to 2022, the country witnessed growth in exports, industrial stability, improvement in foreign exchange reserves, better conditions for farmers and laborers, and increased employment opportunities. The party questioned that if PTI had allegedly blocked development, why Balochistan is today facing the worst law-and-order situation and violent incidents.

The statement further said that terrorism incidents in Balochistan had significantly declined during PTI’s tenure, while the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was taken beyond roads into its second phase focusing on industrial and agricultural development. PTI claimed that Imran Khan’s government announced a development package of over Rs 600 billion for underdeveloped districts, activated Gwadar Port, established border markets, and accelerated work on Special Economic Zones—efforts that were also acknowledged by Chinese officials.

PTI accused the current government’s incompetence of causing a nearly 70 percent increase in terrorist incidents in Balochistan, adding that the people of Gwadar are protesting on the streets and Chinese investors are facing security concerns.

The party concluded that national challenges cannot be resolved through false narratives and propaganda, emphasizing that the only path to progress lies in restoring public mandate and ensuring the rights of the people.

It is pertinent to note that a day earlier, Ahsan Iqbal had criticized PTI, stating that the former government remained focused on political victimization, adding that the economy suffered a setback in 2018 and that Pakistan now needs to accelerate the pace of development.