LAHORE: The federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) have agreed to establish separate expert committees to examine measures for reducing the petroleum levy and providing relief to the public.
The decision was announced at a press conference in Lahore by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah following a meeting between government representatives and JI leadership.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government would constitute an expert committee, while the JI would establish its own team to discuss practical measures for reducing the petroleum levy.
“The government will happily act upon recommendations put forward by these committees,” Iqbal said, stressing that both sides had agreed on the need to provide relief to the public.
He said the government would also present its position before the committees and consider implementing recommendations that could provide meaningful relief.
The government currently collects around Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and about Rs100 per litre on diesel.
Iqbal said national interests would remain the government’s priority, adding that Pakistan needed political stability and internal peace to deal with challenges facing the country.
He also said the JI had assured the government that it would not put forward demands contrary to Pakistan’s interests.
JI Seeks Abolition of Petroleum Levy
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the petroleum levy and other issues affecting the public were discussed during the meeting with the government delegation.
He said Thursday marked the 19th day of JI sit-ins against the petroleum levy at more than 20 locations across the country.
“There is no personal agenda behind the sit-ins,” Rehman said, describing the protests as a response to problems faced by ordinary citizens.
He argued that the burden of taxes on petroleum products was disproportionately affecting low-income consumers.
Rehman said the JI had agreed to form an expert committee headed by Liaquat Baloch. Naveed Ali Baig, Ziaddun Ansari, Nasrullah Randhawa and Farasat Shah would also be members of the committee.
The JI emir said the party’s primary position was that the petroleum levy should be abolished and fuel prices reduced.
He assured the government that the party would not make what he described as “obstinate demands” during negotiations.
However, Rehman said the JI had rejected the government’s request to postpone its sit-ins. The party would continue its protests while negotiations with the government proceeded.
Committees Given Two Weeks
Rana Sanaullah said the government and JI committees were expected to develop a workable solution within two weeks.
He said the government would consider acting on the recommendations agreed upon by the committees.
The JI had announced sit-ins in the provincial capitals on August 16 to protest the petroleum levy and later called for a nationwide strike on September 3.
The latest agreement between the government and JI opens the way for negotiations over fuel taxation while the party’s protests continue.