Economist Shabbar Zaidi's critical analysis on World Bank report
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00:00 The report that has been released, I have also mentioned some points of it.
00:03 What do you think, do these points fully justify the economy of Pakistan?
00:09 And the recommendations that have been given, are they fruitful?
00:12 And do you think that they are implementable considering the conditions of Pakistan?
00:16 In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate.
00:19 Look, if you have been following me, and especially in your programs,
00:25 I was the only person in Pakistan who was already predicting all these things.
00:31 And I was telling you that all this is going to happen.
00:36 And the economic conditions of Pakistan are not good.
00:39 But our people were not paying attention and they were saying that this is not right.
00:44 But now, because the World Bank is saying,
00:47 then all of you will agree that you have not taken my words seriously.
00:51 But the most fundamental things are two things.
00:55 One is that we should realize that out of our 24 crore people,
00:59 9.5 crore people have gone below the poverty line.
01:04 And secondly, 2.10 crore children are not going to school.
01:10 This is the highest number in any country.
01:13 The number of people who are not going to school.
01:17 So, I am most worried about the fact that
01:21 despite the serious economic situation,
01:25 no political party, no political figure,
01:29 no forum is showing me any seriousness about economic issues.
01:36 And we are talking about a person who has been Prime Minister three times.
01:43 He will come back. He has a key that will correct Pakistan.
01:47 Despite the fact that he has just been in power for 18-19 months
01:52 and he has made Pakistan's economy a mess.
01:56 So, this is our national issue.
01:59 And there is no way to bring it to this point.
02:06 If our politicians do not have 100%, then 99% is the way.
02:15 Mr. Chaudhary wants to ask you something.
02:18 Mr. Shabbarzade, you have talked about Pakistan's economy
02:22 in a very short time,
02:27 in a very short time, but based on facts.
02:32 You were right.
02:34 But here our priorities are different.
02:39 I have not told anyone that I am not worried about people's unemployment.
02:45 I am not worried about people's livelihood.
02:48 I am not worried about the environment around Pakistan.
02:51 All the powers are with the people who are doing your downfall.
02:57 And no one cares about you.
03:01 So, this is the environment.
03:04 After that, you can put your hand on my chest and say
03:08 that if anyone has any economic flag,
03:13 that we will do this tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after,
03:17 and the 9 crore people you have mentioned with pain,
03:21 the poor and the poor,
03:23 will they have any happiness in their lives?
03:26 Nothing.
03:28 So, you were very optimistic 6 months ago.
03:34 Today, you have also become optimistic.
03:37 So, do you have a plan, after doing 1, 2, 3, 4,
03:42 that these things...
03:43 Yes, but the dollar which was at 325,
03:48 today it is at 280.
03:51 This is a positive contribution.
03:54 Otherwise, everything is going wrong.
03:56 Mr. Ghamisian, you are absolutely right.
04:00 Look, I want to say this in clear words,
04:03 that all the political parties,
04:06 those who are included in the PDM,
04:08 they are all those people who have ruled Pakistan 2-3 times.
04:12 If they say that they have a plan,
04:17 then I can see clearly that they have no plan yet.
04:23 They are revolving around a person,
04:26 and they have no plan of any kind.
04:29 And they are not in a position to give any future economic stability to Pakistan.
04:36 It is because of them that this situation has worsened.
04:40 And now they are saying that we will correct this.
04:45 You said that there is a poem by Mir,
04:49 that you are praying for the same person who you prayed for.
04:52 Yes, for the one who is sick.
04:54 Yes, for the one who is sick.
04:56 So, you are praying for the same person.
04:58 Yes, I am praying for the same person.
05:01 Our game is the same,
05:03 that we are praying for the same person.
05:05 Now, in your answer,
05:07 I have to say a very low truth,
05:10 that this caretaker government has taken two actions
05:15 that have taken a step towards improving the economic position of Pakistan.
05:22 One, they have attacked the exchange companies.
05:25 And you know that I have always said that
05:28 these exchange companies are involved in the Hawala and this Hudi.
05:31 You should put a stop to them.
05:33 Second, they have taken a very hard step towards the Afghan transit trade.
05:38 By combining these two things,
05:40 they are stabilizing the rupee in Pakistan.
05:44 And I am predicting positively in this program
05:48 that if these things remain,
05:50 then by the month of December and early January,
05:55 the rupee-dollar parity in Pakistan will come down to 250.
05:59 But we need for that...
06:01 Very good, very good.
06:03 Mr. Ghulam Hussain,
06:06 I said in yesterday's program
06:08 and I say clearly in your program
06:10 that I have a fear,
06:12 I have a suspicion in my mind
06:14 that God forbid,
06:16 if these governments,
06:18 if we give them the 240 MNA again,
06:21 then whatever correction has been done today,
06:24 they will destroy it.
06:26 So, they have imported the money.
06:28 Mr. Shabbar, what are you saying?
06:30 I am sorry to say that it is in the hands of the people
06:33 who they should elect.
06:35 Whether they elect you as Prime Minister
06:37 or give you the government.
06:39 Whether they elect Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain or me,
06:42 it is a matter of people's decision.
06:45 So, what are you waiting for?
06:47 Mr. Hassan, I will answer your question.
06:49 I have heard you completely and I have understood your point.
06:52 Look, I am saying that the people who are standing in the political scene today
06:57 and I can see that the political parties that are standing in front of us
07:01 and the historical record of them,
07:03 I can say with confidence that
07:05 I am not saying that you should continue any caretaker.
07:08 I am saying that I know all these people,
07:10 Ghulam Hussain is also from Lahore,
07:12 I am also from Lahore,
07:14 I know them personally,
07:16 I know their activities,
07:18 I know the misbehaviour of these MNAs,
07:21 I know these mafias,
07:23 I can say with confidence,
07:25 I can say with absolute confidence
07:27 that if we bring them into power,
07:29 then all this improvement will be reversed.
07:32 This does not mean that we should continue caretakers
07:35 or it does not mean that we should bring in a system that is non-binding.