Hafiz Naeem warns government against ‘failure to rein in IPPs’

English , Latest - تازہ ترین , Pakistan - پاکستان , / Sunday, August 25th, 2024

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Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, announced that if he calls for “organising a sit-in, it will be pursued diligently, with no intention of backing down.” He made the declaration to the ruling PML-N and its ally PPP, warning that only 28 days remain for action to be taken on addressing the issues with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), “faliure to which will result in consequences.” During a press conference in Mansoorah, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman detailed the reorganisation of the “Haq Do Awam” movement to address public concerns. He criticised political parties for focusing on personal interests rather than addressing critical issues such as gas and electricity bills. He accused them of prioritising political gains over necessary reforms. He also highlighted the ongoing gas and electricity crisis and the increasing tax burden on salaried individuals. Hafiz Naeem revealed that IPPs received Rs. 2 trillion for not producing electricity and announced a nationwide strike and shutter-down on August 28, supported by the business community. He criticised the government’s tax exemptions for IPPs and the renewal of expired contracts, calling for accountability for these decisions. Hafiz Naeem further pointed out that IPPs received Rs. 1.2 trillion in tax exemptions during 2017-18, while ordinary citizens face heavy taxes on utilities. He described this disparity as unjust and criticized the current tax system as ineffective. He also referenced a report by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) indicating annual corruption of Rs. 1,299 billion related to income tax bribes, and expressed frustration with the lack of reform in the FBR. In addition, Hafiz Naeem mentioned the persecution faced by Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh over the past 15 years, including the funerals of many leaders departing from prisons.