Jamaat-e-Islami announces 15-day protest against petroleum levy

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced a sit-in outside the Governor House in Sindh today against the government’s decision not to reduce the petroleum levy. The party has also prepared a 15-day schedule for the protest campaign.

JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said an increase in petroleum product prices leads to higher costs across the country and puts additional pressure on ordinary citizens.

He criticised what he described as an unequal tax system, saying the country’s elite class was not paying its fair share of taxes while poor people continued to struggle with rising expenses.

Naeemur Rehman also alleged that privileged groups enjoyed various benefits without paying their due share, while taxes were not being properly collected from the incomes of owners of independent power producers (IPPs).

Meanwhile, JI Karachi chief Munim Zafar said the government had already collected around Rs100 billion more than its targeted revenue from the petroleum levy.

He accused the government of turning the petroleum levy into a major source of revenue after failing to achieve its broader tax collection targets.

The JI has also announced a protest sit-in in Lahore against the petroleum levy. The demonstration will be held at Charing Cross on The Mall.

The party has been demanding a reduction in the petroleum levy, arguing that lower fuel-related charges could help ease inflationary pressure on households and businesses.

JI leaders said their protests would continue until the government addressed their concerns and provided relief to citizens facing rising living costs.