ISLAMABAD, July 30 (DNA): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and
former prime minister Imran Khan has slammed the ‘incompetent’
government over rupee depreciation and the rise in the inflation rate.

Imran Khan said in a Twitter message on Saturday that the US dollar
stood at Rs178 on March 8, 2022, when the vote of no-confidence was
tabled. He said that US dollar has reached Rs250 under the incumbent
government.

The former prime minister said that the inflation stood at 16.5% on
March 8, 2022 but it has spiralled to 38%. Criticising the current
rulers, Khan said, “Not only is this imported govt made up of crooks but
it is thoroughly incompetent too. Question is who is responsible for
this mess?”

Criticising the current rulers, Khan said, “Not only is this imported
govt made up of crooks but it is thoroughly incompetent too. Question is
who is responsible for this mess?”

Yesterday, inflation measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI)
posted a hefty increase of 3.68 per cent for the week ended on July 28,
according to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
(PBS).

The overall inflation rate in the country has reached 37.67 per cent
after weekly inflation surged by 3.68 percent driven by a sharp rise in
the prices of essential items.

During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 30 items increased 07 items
decreased and 14 items remained constant, showed the data issued by the
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The weekly inflation spiked by 3.68pc due to an increase in prices of
essential items including tomatoes 17.53pc, LPG 7.02pc, pulse masoor
4.18pc, pulse mash 2.87pc, pulse gram 2.46, Pulse Moong (Washed) 2.02pc,
Vegetable Ghee (2.5 kg) 1.80pc, Garlic 1.69pc, rice basmati (broken)
1.21pc.

Meanwhile, the electricity charges for quarter 1 (Q1) witnessed an
increase of 26.11pc (Rs1.88). Prices of beef, mutton, sugar, milk and
potatoes also witnessed an increase, while prices of onion, chicken,
flour and eggs decreased.

Last week, the weekly inflation rate dropped to -0.22, however, the
annual rate is over 32%.