"Updated" social media users prove Asad Umar wrong on economic statistics

LAHORE - Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar landed in troubled waters following online criticism over his incorrect claims on economic statistics on Saturday.

The minister faced severe backlash on Twitter and other social media platforms after he gave "misleading" figures of fiscal deficit and oil prices.

In a tweet, the finance minister claimed that the current account deficit of Pakistan declined by 900 million dollars last month, which is 72 per cent decline as compared to the same month last year.

The deficit came down to 356 million dollars against 1,280 million dollars last year, Asad Umar wrote in his tweet.

Feb 2019 current account deficit declined by 72% or 900 million $ vs feb last year. Deficit down to 356 million $ vs 1280 million $ last year. Deficit in feb 2019 lowest in 29 months. Brent oil price was 35 $ at that vs 67 $ now

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 15, 2019

He claimed that oil price in February 2018 was 35 US dollars per barrel whereas the oil price in February 2019 was 67 US dollars.

The social media users posted an online chart to reveal the correct facts and figures pertaining to the oil prices, according to which the oil price in February 2018 was 63 US dollars per barrel, while in the same month in 2019 it cost 61 US dollar per barrel.

@Asad_Umar Please I beg your pardon @ehsanulhaq31 has drawn my attention to the above ! How can we trust your numbers on deficits if you are brazenly misquoting the average oil price in Feb 2018 was 66.23 $ ! How can you do that ?? pic.twitter.com/B6NDuQqR7f

— Iqbal Latif (@ilatif) March 15, 2019

Another social media user simply termed Asad’s stats as ‘misleading numbers’.

Misleading numbers

— Absaam (@Absaam_) March 15, 2019