PTI Protests Lead to 600 Billion Rupees Economic Loss for Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan’s economy has suffered a massive blow due to the ongoing protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with losses estimated at approximately 600 billion rupees. The protests have resulted in daily losses exceeding 190 billion rupees.
According to reports, the country’s GDP experienced a direct loss of over 432 billion rupees in just three days. Additionally, tax revenues saw a decline of 78 billion rupees, while the export sector suffered a setback of 50 billion rupees. Foreign direct investment also dropped by 10 billion rupees during this period.
The disruption of major infrastructure, including motorways and metro systems, has further impacted the government’s finances. The agriculture, industrial, and services sectors have also faced significant losses. The internet shutdown, which affected IT and telecom sectors, resulted in several order cancellations and a decline in business activity.
The closure of Islamabad’s business district, Blue Area, has caused millions of rupees in losses, while a shortage of food items has forced citizens to pay higher prices.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb briefed the media on the economic damage caused by the protests. He stated that the ongoing protests and the related disruptions have been causing daily economic losses exceeding 190 billion rupees. He also highlighted how the protests have led to a decrease in tax collections, a slowdown in exports, and additional security costs for maintaining public order.