Pakistan former prime minister Imran Khan ISLAMABAD, Oct 07 (AP): Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, has attacked the government over its handling of the economy and has once again called for swift elections in the country.
"The problem is this government will push Pakistan to the brink. What if the economy tanks and we default? It will be beyond all of us," Khan said on Thursday during an interaction with Al Jazeera and other foreign media outlets in capital Islamabad.
Pakistan's already struggling economy was further racked by unprecedented floods this summer, with the government estimating the total loss at $30bn.
However, Pakistan was battling dwindling foreign exchange reserves and a nose-diving currency even before the floods that killed more than 1,700 people and destroyed homes, roads and rail networks. According to a World Bank report, Pakistan's poverty rate is likely to rise between 2.5 and 4 per centage points due to the floods. Nearly 20 per cent of its 220 million people are already below the poverty line.
On Wednesday, the Asian Development Bank announced a $2.5bn package for the flood-hit country, days after the World Bank pledged $2bn in aid. In late August, the International Monetary Fund announced a $1.17bn bailout package. Khan said the economy will be a challenge for the next government, which he was confident of forming.
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