JI gives govt 7–10 days to provide relief, phase out petroleum levy

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman declared on Tuesday that his party has granted the government a seven to ten day window to offer public relief and advance towards eliminating the petroleum levy, while affirming that the Islamabad march scheduled for mid-November remains on track. After meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Hafiz Naeem detailed that both parties engaged in comprehensive discussions about surging living costs, gasoline prices, the relief package, and the proposed removal of the petroleum levy.

He highlighted that the discussion took place in a cooperative environment, with members of the JI delegation and federal ministers partaking. Hafiz Naeem mentioned that the government requested more time to formulate relief measures through committees, to which the JI agreed. The JI chief confirmed that the government pledged to broaden the previously announced relief package and offer additional aid to the populace.

He further stated that the prime minister had separately urged for a seven to ten day period, a request the JI has consented to. The JI chief expressed that the government agreed to phase out the petroleum levy, a move that his party has demanded to be entirely abolished. Hafiz Naeem criticized the government's relief package, alleging it is insufficient compared to the Rs150 billion monthly income generated by the petroleum levy, whereas the relief package is valued at Rs32 billion.

He referenced the package as Rs26 billion, pointing out inconsistencies in the figures mentioned. Hafiz Naeem argued that the relief offered only a minimal fraction of the amount collected and that low and middle-income families are bearing around 70% of the petroleum levy's impact, collectively paying over Rs100 billion. He demanded an increased relief package, a decrease in gasoline prices, and the removal of extra taxes, encompassing the petroleum levy, customs duties, and the climate support levy.

Hafiz Naeem emphasized that the government should enhance its performance and tax collection system instead of transferring the burden of inefficiency and corruption onto the public via fuel and electricity taxes. The JI chief reiterated that his party would remain unsatisfied with a reduction of merely Rs25 or Rs35 per liter and would continue to advocate for the complete removal of the petroleum levy.

Hafiz Naeem affirmed that his party would persist in its campaign for lower fuel prices, the disbanding of the petroleum levy, and substantial relief for the public. He also stated that the JI's Islamabad long march will occur in mid-November and forewarned that the party would ramp up preparations if the government fails to fulfill its promises.