In the wake of concerns about the state of the country’s economy, Opposition MP Irfaan Ali on Monday urged that a PPP/C motion on proposals to stimulate the economy and reduce poverty be debated ahead of the November 27 presentation of the 2018 budget.
“We believe that it is essential that this motion be considered before the presentation of the national budget so that adjustments can be made”, Ali said during a press conference where he cited what he said was “massive levels of corruption across the government” highlighted in the recently released 2016 Auditor General Report.
Ali told reporters that the half-year report on the economy also showed that sugar, livestock, forestry, mining and quarrying, bauxite and gold production levels have all declined. “So if you look at the entire productive sector of the economy there was a total decline….These are the sectors that generate most of the revenue, brings in foreign revenue and allow us the space to grow the economy and to invest in public infrastructure”, he said adding that aside from this decline, food prices, the price index for medical and personal as well as educational and recreation services have grown. “So … you had a decline in the economy and a decline in the production sector which naturally would affect the employment rate”, he said.
