RAWALPINDI, Feb 13: The local Jamaat-i-Islami leadership has criticized the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for recommending an 8 Paisa per unit increase in the electricity charges.

The chief of the party's Rawalpindi chapter, Dr Mohammad Kamal, in a statement claimed that Nepra had sent a summary to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz recommending the increase.

He said it was a conspiracy of the international financial institutions against the people of Pakistan. Mr Kamal appealed to the prime minister to look into the matter in the perspective of the prevailing situation in the country instead of succumbing to the dictates of the lending institutions.

After the excessive raise in the prices of petroleum products and gas, electricity rates are being increased, which would put an unbearable burden on the masses, he said.

"It is a matter of shame for those in the corridors of power who have been claiming that the economy had stabilized. The economy, now as then, is stable only for the rulers and the bigwigs," he said.

Practically, the situation is totally opposite to what the government has been claiming, the Jamaat leader said. For high expenditures on the private trips of government functionaries, there is no dearth of resources but to give a single rupee relief to the poor the exchequer is always empty, he regretted.