Fazlur Rehman calls for economic reforms

ISLAMABAD, Jun 15 (APP): Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Monday that Pakistan needs serious economic reforms instead of political blame games.

Speaking during the National Assembly budget debate, he said the country must focus on practical reforms rather than political arguments.

He said reforms were necessary to address inflation and increasing debt which was affecting common man with rising costs of household expenses, utility bills, education, and healthcare.

Highlighting the law and order situation, he called for an in-camera briefing to Parliament on the security situation, including developments in Afghanistan, Iran, and the wider region.

He said lawmakers should be fully informed about ground realities.

On foreign policy, he said Pakistan’s mediation efforts during tensions between Iran and the United States had been appreciated.

He also stressed the need for dialogue with Afghanistan, saying regional stability depends on it. He called for stronger action against terrorism.

He said recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology have not been debated in Parliament despite legal requirements.

Recalling the 1973 Constitution, he said it was formed through consensus among major political leaders and provinces, but warned that later changes have weakened its original spirit, particularly in fiscal arrangements under the National Finance Commission award.

On political tensions, he urged efforts to revive the Charter of Democracy and expressed willingness for dialogue with opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying no side would disrupt such a process.

He called for political reconciliation, institutional dialogue, and a renewed focus on economic and security reforms, saying Pakistan’s challenges can only be addressed through consensus and stability.