ISLAMABAD: Adviser on Finance Dr. Hafeez Shaikh says government in its first two years paid huge amount of debt worth 5000 billion rupees and brought current account deficit down to three billion dollars.

Addressing a post budget webinar, he said when PTI government came into power Pakistan was facing economic crises which forced it to take IMF economic package.

Dr Hafeez Shaikh said before the coronavirus outbreak, the country's exports had begun to move up.

He said in wake of the pandemic, government has given 16 million Pakistanis cash support and paid electricity bills of small commercial enterprises.

The Adviser said wheat worth 280 billion rupees was procured to ensure food security.

He said the budget of civil government was reduced while military expenditures were also not increased.