Pak minister acknowledges govt's failure in addressing woes of middle class

Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Friday acknowledged his government's failure in reducing the economic burden on the country's middle class.

Addressing an event here, Chaudhry said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was aware about the role the country's middle class played in propelling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to power in last year's general elections.

"Our biggest regret is that we cannot provide immediate relief to the middle class that voted for us. Taxes are levied on the salaried class, and gas and electricity rates have increased for them," he said.

The minister said that the government succeeded to shield the poorest segments from the financial burden but it could not do so in case of the middle class due to lack of money.

He blamed the economic woes, which the current government inherited, for the failure to live up to the expectation of the people during the first six months.

"Our total income is approximately Rs 5.5 trillion, of which Rs 2 trillion goes to debt ..