IMF programmes led to price hikes
As many as 86,000 SIMs have been blocked for anti-state activities, Parliamentary Secretary Sajid Mehdi told the National Assembly on Wednesday.
He was responding to a call-to-attention notice regarding the spread of fake news on social media platforms in the National Assembly by Asiya Naz Tanoli.
Parliamentary Secretary Sajid Mehdi admitted that the government had blocked the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to curb misinformation, adding that 86,000 SIMs have also been blocked over anti-state activities.
Mehdi contrasted Pakistan’s approach to fake news with international practices, stating: “Globally, fake news is not given as much importance, and there is greater freedom of expression.”
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in its report submitted to the National Assembly, said that the prices of electricity and gas have increased due to the International Monetary Fund programmes, leading to price hikes during the last five years.
The PBS maintained that the federal government raised the gas rate by 319 percent in February 2024 and by 520 percent in November 2023.
Meanwhile, the prices of essential commodities have increased significantly over the past five years. It added that the price of sugar increased by 53.5 percent, while palm oil prices have risen by 61percent during the same period.
