Hafiz Naeem, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, expressed concerns about alleged corrupt practices by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), reportedly influenced by the desires of the World Bank, as reported by Bol News.
During a press conference held at Idara e Noor e Haq, Hafiz Naeem highlighted that the World Bank had purportedly pushed for the taxation of individuals earning a monthly salary of Rs 50,000. He pointed out that the country was grappling with soaring inflation and significant price hikes, with insufficient regulatory mechanisms in place to address these issues.
Despite a decrease in the value of the dollar, Hafiz Naeem emphasized that there had been no corresponding reduction in the prices of essential commodities such as oil, flour, and sugar.
He lamented the lack of effective governance, underscoring that prices of these essential goods continued to rise. Furthermore, Hafiz Naeem criticized the caretaker government for raising petrol prices by 58 rupees, only to reduce it by a mere 8 rupees later. He contended that these fluctuations had severely impacted the economic well-being of ordinary citizens.
Hafiz Naeem also drew attention to the growing number of parents who were compelled to withdraw their children from private schools due to financial constraints, opting instead for enrollment in government schools. He described a dire situation where a substantial majority of the population struggled to secure two meals a day.
The Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi stressed that the primary responsibility for controlling food prices lay with the Commissioner of Karachi. He criticized what he referred to as the “K-Electric mafia” in Karachi, asserting that the organization operated a dysfunctional power plant, and its inefficiencies burdened the city’s residents.
Naeem asserted that Pakistani citizens were forced to pay exorbitant electricity prices, even for power they did not use, calling for the immediate termination of K Electric’s monopoly.
Furthermore, Hafiz Naeem highlighted the substantial profits garnered by independent power plants, amounting to 28 billion rupees annually. He concluded by urging the accountability of individuals involved in these practices, emphasizing that this would significantly improve the quality of life for the people of Karachi.
