Finance minister warns economic fallout from PTI sit‑ins

Pakistan's finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, issued a stark warning on Sunday regarding the economic damage that could arise from PTI‑organized sit‑ins. He estimated a daily loss of 120 billion rupees to the national exchequer if protests continue to disrupt government functions.

The minister stressed that Pakistan, still grappling with high inflation, a strained balance of payments and reliance on World Bank assistance, cannot afford additional shocks. He added that frequent interruptions to economic activity could erode investor confidence and delay the country's path toward sustainable growth.

The statements came as Islamabad police announced the detention of four PTI members accused of coordinating a nationwide protest aimed at securing the release of party leader Imran Khan and demanding constitutional safeguards. Security agencies are intensifying monitoring of potential protest sites, logistics providers, and movement of party cadres.