JI, Government to hold talks on petroleum levy as Shehbaz-Naeem meeting is planned

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the federal government are scheduled to hold negotiations on Friday to discuss the party’s demand for abolishing the petroleum levy and finalise arrangements for a proposed meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the federal government are scheduled to hold negotiations on Friday to discuss the party’s demand for abolishing the petroleum levy and finalise arrangements for a proposed meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

According to a JI press release issued on Thursday the talks were arranged after a telephone conversation between JI Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch and Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The negotiating committees will meet at Punjab House in Islamabad to discuss the petroleum levy issue and determine a schedule for the proposed meeting between the prime minister and the JI chief.

JI has been campaigning for more than two months for the removal of petroleum levies, which it says amount to Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. The party maintains that rising fuel prices, amid conflicts in the Middle East since March have increased financial pressure on households and businesses.

Despite agreeing to negotiations, JI has announced peaceful protests at district headquarters across Pakistan on Friday. Liaqat Baloch said the party would continue its demonstrations alongside talks, arguing that the campaign aimed to provide public relief reduce production costs and support economic activity.

Baloch also stressed that reducing petroleum levies and payments to independent power producers (IPPs) could ease pressure on agriculture, industry, trade and small businesses. He urged the government to demonstrate political commitment to measures that could reduce the financial burden on citizens.

According to the JI statement Ahsan Iqbal said the meeting had initially been planned for Tuesday or Wednesday but was delayed because of urgent government engagements. Baloch also claimed that previous relief measures had failed to deliver the desired economic benefits.

The party has warned that it could resume its long march from Multan towards Islamabad if the government does not accept its demand. The march was postponed on September 22 after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly requested more time and assured JI that a meeting would be arranged.

JI had earlier announced sit-ins in provincial capitals on August 16 and called for a nationwide strike on September 3. The two sides subsequently agreed to establish committees to explore possible reductions in petroleum levies.

The upcoming negotiations will take place amid continuing disagreements over fuel taxation and the cost of living. JI says its negotiating committee has identified possible options within the limitations of the International Monetary Fund programme and the national budget. The government’s response will be central to determining whether negotiations can prevent further protests.