Pakistan Needs Economic Self-Reliance, Not Foreign Aid: Nayyar Bukhari

Laiquat Ali

Islamabad: Secretary General of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Wednesday called for urgent, long-term reforms to steer Pakistan out of its economic crisis, stressing that the country cannot be run on foreign loans and aid.

In a strong statement, Bukhari emphasized the need to break free from the clutches of international financial institutions. “To escape the grip of global lending bodies, we must make difficult decisions and adopt policies rooted in self-reliance and economic self-sufficiency,” he said.

He urged all political parties to reach a consensus on a “Charter for a Stable Economic Pakistan” and demanded the formulation of a long-term economic roadmap to overcome the ongoing fiscal and financial challenges.

Highlighting the burden of inflation and unemployment on the common people, Bukhari criticized parliamentarians and privileged segments of society for focusing on personal gain. “Those who enjoy perks and privileges should move beyond desk-thumping and pleasing individuals in power, and shift their focus to public welfare,” he said.

He also urged the wealthy, influential, and high-earning classes to fulfill their national responsibility by paying taxes, stating that “respect, fame, and wealth must come with accountability.” Bukhari called for across-the-board tax collection on all taxable businesses, incomes, assets, and profits — without discrimination.

Emphasizing the need to prioritize agriculture, he recommended a substantial allocation for the sector in the national budget. He recalled that under previous PPP governments, agricultural growth rose by up to 11%. “During President Asif Ali Zardari’s tenure, an increase in the wheat procurement price led to a bumper crop,” Bukhari added.

He concluded by stressing that real national service lies in equitable taxation, sustainable development, and policies that directly uplift the lives of ordinary citizens.