Finance Minister Estimates Rs120 Billion Daily Loss From Protests and Strikes

 

Pakistan could suffer economic losses of around Rs120 billion per day if planned marches and sit-ins disrupt commercial and government activities, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has warned.

The services sector is likely to face the biggest impact, with estimated daily losses of nearly Rs86 billion. The industrial sector could suffer losses of about Rs25 billion, while government revenue may decline by approximately Rs17 billion.

Aurangzeb warned that prolonged disruptions could slow economic activity at a time when several key indicators have been showing improvement. He urged political stakeholders to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiations.

The finance minister also highlighted recent economic developments, saying Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves had increased to $21.4 billion. He added that the economy posted GDP growth of 3.7% during the previous financial year.

According to Aurangzeb, other positive developments include stronger remittance inflows, a recovery in large-scale manufacturing and improved corporate earnings. He also noted increased investment activity in the stock market.

The minister stressed that maintaining economic stability requires not only sound financial policies but also an environment in which businesses and government institutions can continue operating without significant disruptions.

He called for political differences to be addressed through consensus to reduce the potential economic impact of protests and other disruptions. He said minimizing interruptions would help sustain ongoing economic activity and preserve improvements being recorded across various sectors.