ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has suffered a staggering economic loss of billions of rupees, according to the Finance Ministry, due to the unnecessary lockdown imposed by the current federal government, amounting to Rs190 billion on a daily basis.
On Saturday, the country faced one of the worst lockdowns in recent history when the government closed all major transport routes 48 hours in advance of a planned protest by its opponents in Islamabad.
The government calls it a ‘repair work’ when it sounds far more complicated.
An internal report by the Finance Ministry estimates that the disruptions are costing the daily GDP Rs. 144 billion. Along with Rs. 16 billion in export revenue and Rs. 26 billion in FBR revenue. Foreign direct investment inflows are also losing Rs. 3 billion daily.
The report noted that such shutdowns disrupt supply chains, affect industrial and agricultural production, and inflate food prices due to transportation challenges. The ministry downward calculated the daily GDP at Rs. 198 billion instead of the projected Rs. 342 billion.
The ministry warned that ongoing political risks are worsening the fiscal deficit, slowing GDP growth and deterring foreign investment.
