PTI Protests Lead to Economic Losses of Over 600 Billion Rupees, Claims Finance Minister

Islamabad:The ongoing protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have caused significant damage to the national economy, with an estimated loss of approximately 600 billion rupees. The protests are reported to have incurred daily losses exceeding 190 billion rupees, excluding the costs associated with maintaining law and order and damage to public property.

According to sources, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) experienced a direct loss of over 432 billion rupees within just three days of the protests. The tax revenue shortfall amounted to 78 billion rupees, while the export sector faced a loss of 50 billion rupees. Additionally, direct foreign investment saw a drop of 10 billion rupees during the three-day period.

The closure of motorways and metro services further added to the financial strain on the government. Key sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services also reported substantial losses. The suspension of internet services had a negative impact on the IT and telecom sectors, with several orders being canceled.

The business hub of Islamabad, Blue Area, suffered a major setback, resulting in losses worth millions of rupees. The shortage of essential food items led to higher prices for consumers, exacerbating the financial burden on the public.

Earlier, Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb had informed the media about the economic repercussions of PTI’s protests. He highlighted that the opposition-led demonstrations were causing daily losses of over 190 billion rupees, primarily due to the disruptions in business operations and tax collections. The minister also pointed out that the ongoing protests had severely affected exports and added extra costs for securing public safety.

The government’s economic response is under intense scrutiny as it grapples with the dual challenges of political instability and the rising costs of maintaining order during such mass protests.