NOWSHERA, April 27: A People’s Party Parliamentarians leader Naseerullah Babar has criticised the recent expansion of the federal cabinet, saying it will place an additional burden on national exchequer.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Mr Babar said the increase in the number of ministers and state ministers would cost at least Rs100 million a month and put an unbearable burden on the people, most of whom remained deprived of basic amenities.

He said industrialists and traders had made an unprecedented raise in prices of sugar and pulses without any fear of the government.

Mr Babar said due to high prices of sugar in open market, the common man including daily wage earners had been forced to stand in queues outside Utility Stores to get two kilogrammes of sugar.

He said the ministers with bad performance should be sent home rather than being awarded new portfolios.

Commenting on the huge size of the cabinet, he said: “Even the prime minister does not know the exact number of his cabinet members.”