Hafiz Naeem calls rising levies ‘petrol bombs’ on Pakistan’s poor

Addressing participants at a sit-in in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said people were being economically crushed in the name of petroleum levies,

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has strongly criticized the government’s taxation and energy policies, accusing authorities of placing an unbearable financial burden on ordinary citizens.

Addressing participants at a sit-in in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said people were being economically crushed in the name of petroleum levies, describing the frequent increases in fuel costs as “petrol bombs” being dropped on the public.

He said the government attributed rising petroleum prices to higher rates in the international market and argued that importing refined petroleum products had become increasingly expensive. However, he maintained that the resulting burden was ultimately transferred to consumers.

The JI chief also criticized the condition of Pakistan’s oil-refining sector, saying successive governments had failed to modernize and upgrade refineries. He pointed out that motorcycle users and other ordinary consumers were also paying petroleum levies, while higher petrol prices eventually pushed up the cost of everyday goods.

Hafiz Naeem described the petroleum levy as a form of taxation and argued that the existing system had little connection with the welfare of ordinary people. He also criticized the country’s electricity pricing structure, claiming that consumers were being charged heavily despite relatively low generation costs.

He further warned that once an effective judicial system was established, those responsible for governance and financial decisions would face scrutiny. He said audits and trials would reveal the assets and financial dealings of those involved.

Hafiz Naeem emphasized that the ongoing sit-in was not aimed at advancing the interests of any individual or political personality. He said the movement was being organized to raise the grievances of the public and demand relief from mounting economic pressures.