Non-performers will be left behind — Tareen

PTI leader says new finance team will help clear the economic confusion

Jahangir Khan Tareen, a prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) said that the country’s economic situation is difficult but will improve as his party brings long-term reforms, Dawn reported yesterday.

In an interview on DunyaNews show hosted by journalist Kamran Khan, the former PTI secretary general said Prime Minister Imran Khan, in the Cabinet reshuffle in April “changed players who weren’t working”.

Khan had changed the ministers for finance, information, health and interior.

“Khan should be praised for his action. He has changed players who weren’t working.

This isn’t a team that can’t change. Those who perform stay, those who don’t fall behind,” Tareen said.

On the economy issue, he said: “This is not [where we wanted to be],” Tareen said. “We are surrounded by challenges today. The confusion has hurt us, but the promising thing is that a new finance team is here. Khan has brought excellent people at key posts.”

“Abdul Hafeez Shaikh [the new finance adviser] is an experienced man. We needed someone experienced. [State Bank of Pakistan Governor] [Reza Baqir] is also experienced.

“Similarly, [Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman] Shabbir Zaidi is also an outof-the-box solution. All of Pakistan knows that what Zaidi knows about tax, no one else knows. He has a grip on internal issues and understands why people don’t pay tax in Pakistan,” he said.