JI for cutting petrol prices, helping daily-wagers

KARACHIJamaat-e-Islami Karachi emir Hafiz Naim ur Rehman has said billions of dollars coming from abroad through the IMF should be transferred to daily-wage earners and the salaried class by reducing the prices of petroleum products and waiving electricity bills for at least three months.

He stated this on Saturday in a communiqué sent to federal and provincial governments, asking them to reduce the price of petrol to Rs50, and distribute the mount thus saved among the masses.

The JI leader said amnesty had been announced by the government for people associated with the construction section and especially for the Naya Pakistan builders.

He said that if the prices if petrol products were reduced, this would trickle down to grassroots level and the whole community would benefit from it. He said his experience was that when ration was distributed, people said they were respected people and did not need ration; instead, they said they wanted to go to their jobs.

Rehman further said that if prices were reduced, the common citizens would get relief. He demanded from the government to give the people of Karachi exemption from two months' electricity bills' payment.

The entire world is facing a serious crisis due to the coronavirus, but the government was transferring billions of dollars to the rich class, he claimed.

The JI leader said that the Sindh government was making claims that ration was being given to the poor, but not a single bag had been given to the masses. "All is being given on paper and in the media only."

He reiterated that citizens were hard workers and they did not want to become beggars.

He said the lockdown was essential, but people should not die of hunger. He appealed the Karachi mayor to come forward and help his voters.