Key Takeaways
- The third round of talks between Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the government to abolish the petroleum levy will be held on September 15.
- The negotiations were postponed from Monday to Tuesday at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s request.
- The discussions will also cover issues concerning independent power producers (IPPs).
The third round of negotiations between Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the government to abolish the petroleum levy has been rescheduled for September 15 (Tuesday), following an extension request from the government, according to a statement from the JI’s information department.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal conveyed the government’s message to JI Vice President Liaquat Baloch, who stated that the discussions will also cover issues concerning independent power producers (IPPs).
The talks, which began after the two sides agreed to form committees comprising experts to discuss recommendations for reducing the petroleum levy and providing relief to the public, have so far held two rounds.
During the first round held on September 7, JI submitted six key proposals to the government committee. Baloch emphasized that the direct Rs80 petroleum levy per litre on petrol and diesel is severely impacting the national economy.
The government levies Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. The ongoing protests against the petroleum levy, which began on August 16, have seen sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, and dozens of other locations across the country.
JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the government that the ongoing protest would march towards Islamabad on September 20 if the levy was not withdrawn.
The talks are part of the government’s response to the sit-ins, which have been staged by JI in various parts of Pakistan. The negotiations are seen as a step towards resolving the issue and providing relief to the public.
