Key Takeaways
- The federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) agreed to form committees to recommend measures for reducing the petroleum levy.
- A government delegation met with JI leadership in Lahore to discuss the issue.
- Both sides agreed to work together to provide relief to the public and ensure Pakistan's interests are protected.
The federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) have agreed to form committees to recommend measures for reducing the petroleum levy and providing relief to the public. This decision was announced at a press conference in Lahore on Thursday.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, and JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman were present at the press conference. The government has requested JI to form a similar committee to jointly discuss measures for reducing the petroleum levy.
The government levies Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. Both the government and JI agreed that relief should be provided to the public. The government will happily act upon recommendations put forward by these committees, Iqbal said.
The JI chief said his party and the government had discussed the petroleum levy and other matters during a meeting earlier in the day. He added that Thursday marked the 19th day of JI sit-ins against the petroleum levy at more than 20 locations across the country.
According to the JI chief, ordinary citizens are bearing a disproportionate tax burden on petroleum products. A common bike rider, whose income is non-taxable, is paying 35pc in taxes on every litre of petrol, he said.
The JI has agreed to form an expert committee, headed by Liaquat Baloch. The committee includes Naveed Ali Baig, Ziauddin Ansari, Nasrullah Randhawa, and Faisal Shah. The JI chief assured the government that the party would not make any demand that was against the country’s interests.
The government delegation requested the JI to postpone its sit-ins, but the JI decided to continue the protests alongside negotiations with the government. Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said the committees formed by the JI and the government would reach a workable solution within two weeks.
The government and JI agreed that the committees would examine the petroleum levy and other proposals. Both sides expressed hope that the technical teams would develop a feasible solution within two weeks. The government is ready to consider feasible proposals put forward by the JI to reduce the burden on consumers.
The government will happily act upon recommendations put forward by these committees.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Planning Minister
There is no personal agenda behind the sit-ins; it is based on issues faced by the public on a daily basis, along with other major problems.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, JI Emir
