{
  "id": 7795733,
  "title": "JI chief warns talks with govt may end after 4th round if decision on abolishing petroleum levy delayed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ji-chief-warns-talks-with-govt-may-end-after-4th-round-if-decision-on-7795733",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T13:05:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2030379/ji-chief-warns-talks-with-govt-may-end-after-4th-round-if-decision-on-abolishing-petroleum-levy-delayed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has cautioned that the ongoing dialogue with the government on the petroleum levy could conclude after their fourth round if the levy remains unabolished. The negotiations commenced on September 7, following an agreement to establish committees comprising experts and leaders to deliberate on suggestions for lowering the petroleum levy and alleviating public distress. Three rounds of discussions have thus far taken place, with the fourth slated for 6pm today (Wednesday) in Islamabad.\n\nRehman, in a prior statement from Karachi, denounced the government’s fuel relief program and emphasized the necessity of abolishing the levy, rather than substituting it with temporary measures. \"If the government persists in delaying and fails to abolish the petroleum levy, today’s talks will be the final round,\" Rehman was quoted as asserting. He highlighted that the government generated Rs1,567 billion through the petroleum levy annually but designated only Rs25bn for public relief, deeming the package insufficient.\n\nRehman criticized the proposed relief package, questioning its execution via weekly fuel distribution and declaring that the practice of daily petroleum price revisions was problematic, causing difficulties for consumers and businesses. He also criticized the lockdown measures, expressing concern over traders being pressured under the guise of maintaining the system.\n\nJI has been organizing periodic sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, and numerous other cities nationwide since August 16 to protest against the levy and IPP agreements. The government imposes Rs114 per litre tax and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. Last week, Rehman had warned the government that the ongoing protest would march towards Islamabad on September 20 if the levy was not repealed.",
  "summary": "KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday warned that ongoing talks with the government over the petroleum levy may end if the levy is not withdrawn soon. The talks between the government and JI began on September 7 after the two sides agreed to form committees, comprising experts and leaders, to discuss recommendations for reducing the petroleum levy and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "JI chief warns talks with govt may end after 4th round if decision on abolishing petroleum levy delayed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ji-chief-warns-talks-with-govt-may-end-after-4th-round-if-decision-on",
        "published": "2026-09-16T13:05:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}