Islamabad, February 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday welcomed the statement of Prime Minister Imran Khan on the 18th Amendment of the Constitution. The amendment is a security risk and a great threat to the economy, which must be repealed without delay, it said. The motives of this amendment were political which is damaging the economy and stoking poverty, and it will ultimately lead to bankruptcy of the country, said Brig (Retd) Aslam Khan, Chairman PEW.

The amendment was a security risk aimed solely at the welfare of politicians and as a result of the 18th amendment, 104 changes have been made in the Constitution which did not benefit the people but increased the power of politicians. The move resulted in increased corruption and mismanagement while it continue to damage health, education, agriculture, and other important sectors.

After the passage of the amendment, the business community is caught in the cycle of federal and provincial taxes, business costs have risen while litigation has piled up in the courts. The government is losing billions of rupees in revenue stuck in the litigation, while the centre has nothing left for repayment of loans, interest, and defence expenses.

Scarcity of resources is leading to increased borrowing to meet the necessary expenses, he said, adding that provinces are wasting resources instead of using them and there is no check over it. Aslam Khan said that the health, education, agriculture, industry, and services sector are paying the price for the greed of politicians. Despite the negative effects of the amendment on key sectors, no attempt has been made to improve the situation, which is unfortunate, he said.

For more information, contact:
President,
Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW)
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