Islamabad, Apr 8: The new PPP-led coalition government in Pakistan has decided to summon former prime minister Shaukat Aziz to explain the reasons for rapidly deteriorating state of national economy, and why he portrayed a rosy picture of the economy all these years.

Aziz left the country soon after the formation of the caretaker government. It is not clear if there is any special power that may be used to summon Aziz to return to the country and brief the government.

“Our economy is under great pressure. We must have knowledge of the economic situation today. Aziz will be asked to attend the meetings to give his view on the state of economy,” the Dawn quoted Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as saying last evening.

Dar said that as a member of the standing committee in the previous government he always looked at the growth figures with suspicion, but Aziz had been portraying rosy pictures of the economy over the past eight years.

The finance minister said he would present a transparent and factual statement on the state of economy till March 31 in the National Assembly, Senate and its relevant committees. This would give you an opening statement of the economic situation of the government, he added. (ANI)