LAHORE: Blaming the PTI government for figure fudging to hoodwink masses, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has directed economic advisory council of the party to give suggestions for protecting rights of the people in the present scenario.

The direction came at a virtual meeting of the council held on Sunday and attended among others by former finance minister Ishaq Dar, ex-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Miftah Ismael, Mushahid Hussain, Muhammad Zubair, Khurram Dastgir, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and Musadiq Malik.

The meeting discussed in detail the overall economic situation in the country, says a press release issued after the meeting.

Mr Sharif was quoted as saying that the statistics of the economy being presented by the by the government were a fraud with the nation, asking the council members to give their suggestions in reference to June 3 pre-budget seminar the PML-N would be hosting.

He said it would be the first priority of the party not to allow passage of the likely ‘anti-masses’ budget of the PTI government.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2021