ISLAMABAD: Criticising the government over its incapability to control the declining price of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman held the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and its policies responsible for currency’s devaluation.

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Sherry took to Twitter on Tuesday and said, “The prime minister was informed about the value of the dollar on TV first. I have never seen such an irresponsible government.”

“The rupee has depreciated by 30.5% in the last three years. In 2018, the dollar was Rs123, which is now Rs178. The government and its policies are responsible for the free fall and uncertainty of the rupee.”

وزیراعظم کو پہلے ڈالر کی قیمت کی اطلاع ٹی وی سے ملتی تھی۔ اتنی غیر ذمہ دار حکومت پہلے کبھی نہیں دیکھی۔ گزشتہ 3 سال میں روپے کی قدر میں %30.5 کمی ہوئی ہے۔ 2018 میں ڈالر 123روپے کا تھا جو اب 178 کا ہو چکا ہے۔ روپے کے فری فال اور غیر یقینی کی ذمہ دار حکومت اور اس کی پالیسیاں ہیں۔2/2

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) December 28, 2021

“The [US] dollar has reached its highest level of 178.17. In the open market, the dollar has reached Rs 181.20. The government acquits itself by putting the responsibility on the bookies. Are bookies now deciding the value of the national economy and the rupee? Or is the government part of this conspiracy?

On Monday, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif had said that the proposed mini-budget of the government would leave Pakistan’s economy dependent on external support.

“I again tell the conscientious government members and allies that mini-budget is a cup of poison, stay away from it. Mini-budget amounts to stabbing a knife into Pakistan and its people’s back, we should fight against it,” Sharif had said in a statement.

Sharif had claimed that the government held talks with the IMF in a hurry and no seriousness or readiness was shown.

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“Sustainable economic foundations cannot be built on false promises, childish consolations and illusions. Rising inflation, rising current account deficit and continuous depreciation of the rupee are ticking bombs. The weekly commodity prices index hit a two-year high of 19.83%.”