'Former leaders have enslaved country to debts,' says PM Imran Khan

• Imran Khan presides over cabinet meeting to discuss mini-budget 2021-22.
• PM criticises former regimes for enslaving the country to debts.
• "Country takes debts from same international organisations to pay debts and profits back to them," says Khan. 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan presided over a cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the mini-budget 2021-22.

According to sources, the PM said that since the country had to suffer the consequences of the economic policies formulated by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, a mini-budget was necessary.

He also criticised former regimes and said that since political leaders borrowed hefty loans from international organisations during their tenures, the country has become enslaved to debts.

PM Imran Khan further said that the country takes loans from international organisations and after it fails to return them, more loans have to be borrowed from the same organisations to pay off their debts. 

Talking about the ongoing gas crisis in the country, the premier also assured to resolve the issues with the construction of LNG terminals and virtual pipelines. 

To meet the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of its $6 billion loans, the PTI government is expected to table a mini-budget before the Parliament next week.

Earlier, Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Muzzammil Aslam had said the government would not impose any taxes in the upcoming mini-budget on items used by the common man.

On the other hand, the Opposition has strongly condemned the mini-budget and has decided to stage a protest against the government’s decision.