JI demands nationwide power tariff subsidy

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman demands a reduction in electricity tariffs across the entire country

KARACHI:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has urged the government to reduce the basic electricity tariff across the entire country, calling for the relief to be extended nationwide.

He demanded a reduction in electricity tariffs across the entire country, criticising the government's decision to lower rates by Rs14 per unit in Punjab for only two months.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, he blasted successive governments—PPP, PML-N, PML-Q, and PTI—accusing them of signing detrimental agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) since 1994.

He lambasted the past governments for saddling the public with unbearable capacity charges, warning that the people were at their wit's end.

He warned that the public can no longer bear the load of these charges, and if the government fails to honour its agreement with Jamaat-e-Islami to provide relief, long marches towards Islamabad will be launched nationwide.

Hafiz Naeem also announced a nationwide strike on August 28, followed by a large-scale public engagement campaign. "We will mobilise our members, form committees, and involve the youth to strengthen our movement," he said.