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Prime Minister Imran Khan is addressing Parliament.
Prepare for another session of "lockdowns bad, livelihoods good"
Prepare for another session of "lockdowns bad, livelihoods good"
P.M. will be talking about 4 points.
Point 1 - Coronavirus
Point 1 - Coronavirus
P.M. saying government acted in March with only 26 cases. "We locked down immediately," he says and then, naturally, reiterates that he never wanted lockdowns.
"The Indian subcontinent's situation was very different from the West and Wuhan," he says.
Greatest hits redux
"The Indian subcontinent's situation was very different from the West and Wuhan," he says.
Greatest hits redux
And back on "on the one hand we had to save people from coronavirus and on the other we had to save people from poverty."
Reiterating all the claims about "great pressure" on him to impose harsher lockdowns
Reiterating all the claims about "great pressure" on him to impose harsher lockdowns
"The only government in the world that was not confused about the coronavirus crisis from day 1 was OUR government," says IK.
At least the constant rewriting of history is a consistent hallmark of this administration.
At least the constant rewriting of history is a consistent hallmark of this administration.
Repeating ALL the tired talking points about the impoverished.
- NCOC is great.
- Much-data gathering.
- So much wow.
- Expert opinions! (which we disregarded repeatedly)
- NCOC is great.
- Much-data gathering.
- So much wow.
- Expert opinions! (which we disregarded repeatedly)
We didn't even know how many ventilators were in Pakistan before the pandemic.
I guess its good that the virus has resulted in us doing...inventory?
I guess its good that the virus has resulted in us doing...inventory?
Funny he keeps referring to international coverage of India's response, but has yet to say a single thing about all the international coverage about Pakistan pointing out how flawed our response has been.
"Our team was never confused." - well, there's this week's major lie covered.
The world now saying greater damage from lockdowns than from coronavirus, says the PM. And now claiming the US decision to ease lockdowns (taken AGAINST the advise of experts) proves Pak right
The world now saying greater damage from lockdowns than from coronavirus, says the PM. And now claiming the US decision to ease lockdowns (taken AGAINST the advise of experts) proves Pak right
Once again, IK claiming our death toll proves we have succeeded in battle against coronavirus.
Once again, I would like to point out we're not testing people who die at home; people who don't get tested before dying; people who just never make it to hospital
Once again, I would like to point out we're not testing people who die at home; people who don't get tested before dying; people who just never make it to hospital
"Smart lockdown" means we'll protect the elderly, those with compromised immunities, and at-risk communities, says the PM.
Well, at least we have a definition of "smart lockdown" from the horse's mouth finally
Well, at least we have a definition of "smart lockdown" from the horse's mouth finally
Tiger Force will monitor SOPs because our administration is already "too tired."
So they're tired of doing their...jobs?
So they're tired of doing their...jobs?
The PM now referring to people claiming his government has been hiding behind coronavirus to hide deficiencies in their governance.
He's now talking about Western states that suffered economically due to lockdowns, claiming no one can predict when economy will recover
He's now talking about Western states that suffered economically due to lockdowns, claiming no one can predict when economy will recover
He's right that the entire world is in crisis.
Except Pakistan's economy was in the doldrums even BEFORE the damned pandemic. Which is his point 3
Except Pakistan's economy was in the doldrums even BEFORE the damned pandemic. Which is his point 3
Point 3 - Economy
"We had to perform with the economy given to us," he says.
No duh, sherlock. Maybe shouldn't have promised to fix everything within 100 days then?
"We had to perform with the economy given to us," he says.
No duh, sherlock. Maybe shouldn't have promised to fix everything within 100 days then?
Now he's explaining the current account deficit.
Literally the only thing this government has tried to do anything about and, to their credit, have managed to "fix."
Not that it helps anyone actually in Pakistan.
Literally the only thing this government has tried to do anything about and, to their credit, have managed to "fix."
Not that it helps anyone actually in Pakistan.
"Inflation was inevitable while we fixed problems with the economy," says the PM.
Now complaining about debt servicing. Again: EVERY government inherits debt from previous regimes. This is not a unique scenario for this government
Now complaining about debt servicing. Again: EVERY government inherits debt from previous regimes. This is not a unique scenario for this government
Oh good, he's talking about his never-ending begging bowl. "I am the biggest fundraiser of this country," he says, and have "never been ashamed to ask for funds from Pakistanis for our country."
Just listing all the ways he's begged for money now
Just listing all the ways he's begged for money now
"But I was so ashamed to be asking for money," he says.
We're a third world country. I can assure you, we are NOT the only one that has had to seek loans and debt relief. He needs to get off his high horse and realize what being PM means
We're a third world country. I can assure you, we are NOT the only one that has had to seek loans and debt relief. He needs to get off his high horse and realize what being PM means
The PM is like the father of the country, while the countrymen are his children.
What did we do to deserve a father who actively hates so many of us so much?
What did we do to deserve a father who actively hates so many of us so much?
Now comparing his expenditures during Washington trip to those spent by NS and AZ.
As a reminder: IK was "helped" by supporters, which raises MANY questions about conflict of interest
As a reminder: IK was "helped" by supporters, which raises MANY questions about conflict of interest
"What do all these people think of our country [when we go seeking loans]?" questions IK.
I don't know. What do they think when our PM goes to international junkets and tells them, repeatedly, that we are a nation of corrupt people?
I don't know. What do they think when our PM goes to international junkets and tells them, repeatedly, that we are a nation of corrupt people?
Leaders are supposed to lead by example during times of austerity, says the PM.
True. Probably why people questioned his extensive use of a helicopter. And the money budgeted to 'improve' Presidency. And the money spent on subsidies for PTI supporters
True. Probably why people questioned his extensive use of a helicopter. And the money budgeted to 'improve' Presidency. And the money spent on subsidies for PTI supporters
Now hitting out at LNG deal.
Far smarter people than me have explained how that deal was a great deal "for the time" and should not be compared to current pricing as that is in a constant state of flux.
Far smarter people than me have explained how that deal was a great deal "for the time" and should not be compared to current pricing as that is in a constant state of flux.
10 minutes of ranting to swing right back around to "current account deficit" is now in surplus!
Now he's saying our primary deficit is "level" and credits that to austerity.
Now he's saying our primary deficit is "level" and credits that to austerity.
Oh good, self-correcting.
Admits it was second time in Pakistan's history that Army agreed to budget freeze (not entirely true, but let's go with it) and not the first as ministers kept claiming for a good year.
Admits it was second time in Pakistan's history that Army agreed to budget freeze (not entirely true, but let's go with it) and not the first as ministers kept claiming for a good year.
On to taxes: COVID apparently reduced tax collection, which is at least somewhat true, though there was no chance they would have achieved their revised target regardless
I love that we are totally in favor of 'goron ki zehni gulami' when we want to talk about credit ratings--but NOT when we want to talk about our coronavirus response
Back to tourism in northern areas--which have repeatedly said they do NOT want to restore tourism right now--but per the PM he is under "great pressure" because people will starve to death otherwise.
Some money has been set aside for tourist sectors if can't be reopened, says IK
Some money has been set aside for tourist sectors if can't be reopened, says IK
We did more for construction than anyone else!
Yeah, and we all know who that's going to benefit. Hint: it will not be the impoverished who are looking for low-cost housing
Yeah, and we all know who that's going to benefit. Hint: it will not be the impoverished who are looking for low-cost housing
Construction and agriculture will be prioritized and we will put our full efforts behind these sectors, says PM.
Honestly, too soon to say if this is true. Let's see in a few months
Honestly, too soon to say if this is true. Let's see in a few months
Now IK talking about Panah Gahs and other "welfare state" initiatives. Insaaf Card, etc...
"This saves money of daily wagers," he says.
I question his dedication to these services considering he was asking 'hum inhain kitni dair paisay khilatay rahain gai' just a month back
"This saves money of daily wagers," he says.
I question his dedication to these services considering he was asking 'hum inhain kitni dair paisay khilatay rahain gai' just a month back
Apparently provinces are bound by their promises to help fund the ex-Fata region.
IK is apparently not honor-bound to deliver on any of his promises though
IK is apparently not honor-bound to deliver on any of his promises though
Now we're talking about his personal punching bag: India (pity this bag punches back so often).
Claiming India could use lack of funds for exFata to instigate unrest.
That sounds more like a failure of your intelligence agencies than anything else...
Claiming India could use lack of funds for exFata to instigate unrest.
That sounds more like a failure of your intelligence agencies than anything else...
Onto the education sector. Education 'apartheid' as the PM likes to call it.
Apparently March 2021 will result in a "common core syllabus" nationwide. Why March? Doesn't the school year start in August? (Or January for some I guess)
Apparently March 2021 will result in a "common core syllabus" nationwide. Why March? Doesn't the school year start in August? (Or January for some I guess)
Now his "final 2 points" on the foreign policy.
Apparently this government's "greatest success," per the PM, has been in the field of foreign policy.
Sure? I don't have the energy to contest this though this is definitely not true
Apparently this government's "greatest success," per the PM, has been in the field of foreign policy.
Sure? I don't have the energy to contest this though this is definitely not true
Seems to still be hurting over OBL being found in Abbottabad. And drone strikes.
Basically, he's whining about Obama-era policies ref: Pakistan. It's a different regime now, champ, just acknowledge it has different priorities and you had little to do with it
Basically, he's whining about Obama-era policies ref: Pakistan. It's a different regime now, champ, just acknowledge it has different priorities and you had little to do with it
There is so much "great talent" from Pakistan outside this country who had to suffer because of the OBL raid, claims IK.
Man, if he could only care a tiny fraction for the people IN Pakistan as he does for people OUT, none of us would be questioning him
Man, if he could only care a tiny fraction for the people IN Pakistan as he does for people OUT, none of us would be questioning him
IK claims Donald Trump has always been "very kind" in his dealing with Pakistan.
Man, the jokes just write themselves don't they?
Man, the jokes just write themselves don't they?
Pakistan is "trying" to make peace between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
He's now grabbing onto WhatsApp fwds by claiming this is a coordinated effort to stoke unrest in the Middle East.
He's now grabbing onto WhatsApp fwds by claiming this is a coordinated effort to stoke unrest in the Middle East.
We will become a country that will united the Muslim ummah, says the PM.
Probably should focus on uniting all the people within your country first, but what do I know? I'm no PM.
Probably should focus on uniting all the people within your country first, but what do I know? I'm no PM.
He can't possibly be this naive.
"We have no idea why India doesn't want to increase trade with us?" Slams Modi as arrogant (pot-kettle) and reiterates need to resolve Kashmir issue
"We have no idea why India doesn't want to increase trade with us?" Slams Modi as arrogant (pot-kettle) and reiterates need to resolve Kashmir issue
Claiming India vs. Pakistan is now a purely ideological battle.
I *think* he's trying to justify why this government's response to the Kashmir accession has been so blah despite his "personal intervention"? Kind of just droning on...
I *think* he's trying to justify why this government's response to the Kashmir accession has been so blah despite his "personal intervention"? Kind of just droning on...
