Rehman threatened that if the government did not honor the agreement made with Jamaat-e-Islami to provide broader relief, the party would initiate nationwide long marches towards Islamabad
By Saima Baloch
KARACHI: Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, has urged for a comprehensive reduction in the basic electricity tariff across the entire country, criticizing the Punjab government’s recent initiative as insufficient. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi on Monday, Rehman called for the Rs14 per unit reduction proposed for Punjab to be extended nationwide, emphasizing that the relief should not be limited to one province.
Rehman sharply criticized the financial burden placed on the public by Independent Power Producers (IPPs), attributing the crisis to agreements signed by successive governments, including those led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He condemned the excessive capacity charges imposed by these agreements and declared that the public could no longer bear the high costs associated with electricity.
Rehman threatened that if the government did not honor the agreement made with Jamaat-e-Islami to provide broader relief, the party would initiate nationwide long marches towards Islamabad. Additionally, he announced a nationwide shutter-down strike scheduled for August 28, underscoring the party’s commitment to pressing the government on these issues.
Addressing the broader economic challenges, Rehman criticized the government’s policies, which he claimed have led to the closure of industries and severe distress among industrialists and traders. He pointed out that the exorbitant cost of electricity has exacerbated the economic crisis, revealing how the IPP agreements have devastated the economy. Rehman alleged that the public is paying for electricity that was neither produced nor consumed.
He accused K-Electric, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), and the government of forming a “diabolical alliance” against the people of Karachi. Rehman alleged that every ruling party has supported K-Electric despite its outdated infrastructure and high line losses. He also criticized the state of water supply and sanitation in Karachi, attributing these issues to the incompetence of local government officials, including the mayor and the provincial minister for local government.
Rehman further commented on the aftermath of recent rains, which he said exposed the Sindh government’s inefficiency under PPP leadership. He accused the Sindh government of wasting billions of rupees allocated in the budget, with little to show for it in terms of improved infrastructure. Despite significant investments in road construction and repairs, Rehman noted that Karachi’s roads remain in poor condition following the rains. He assured that Jamaat-e-Islami would persist in its efforts to address the issues faced by the people of Karachi.
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