ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has criticized the recent price increase by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee.

In a statement issued here, she said on the one hand the regime had been claiming that the economic situation was improving while on the other it had multiplied the economic difficulties of the masses.

Ms Bhutto said instead of increasing petroleum prices the government should cut its own expenditures.

She noted that Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali and his cabinet as well as government-dominated parliamentary delegations were spending huge amounts on their overseas travels, which went on for two to three weeks at enormous cost to the common citizens.

Moreover, she added, the regime spent billions on creating and rewarding the NAB for the arm-twisting of political leaders whereas this money should have been spent on poverty alleviation.