Political Actors Fight for Interests Amid IMF-Driven Budget, Says Hafiz Naeem

ISLAMABAD – Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that Pakistan suffers under an oppressive system with parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) engaging in staged confrontations for personal gain.

At a press conference, he said the government acknowledged their budget was prepared under International Monetary Fund (IMF) pressure. The government admitted to being tightly bound by IMF conditions, according to Rehman.

Rehman stated that increases in electricity, petrol, and gas prices directly impact public welfare while the government makes petroleum levy its largest revenue source. He described the budget as a manipulation of figures.

He demanded abolition of petroleum levy and use of vehicles with engine capacities no more than 1,300cc by officials. Rehman alleged corruption worth Rs1.2 to Rs1.3 trillion occurs annually within Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the public is willing to sacrifice for national defense but funds collected through various levies are not spent for their stated purposes.

Rehman questioned government measures in budget to reduce capacity payments in power sector and argued Pakistan has been ruled by elite class for decades. Debt rose to Rs85 trillion with over Rs8 trillion spent on debt servicing, he said.

He maintained the burden of these payments falls on poor and middle classes. Calling for a strong movement against capitalism, Rehman criticized allocation of just 0.8 percent of budget to education and questioned government’s priorities in providing relief to ordinary citizens and low-income families.