Jamaat to negotiate with govt for petroleum levy reduction
LAHORE: The federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) on Thursday agreed to constitute committees to recommend measures for reducing the petroleum levy and providing relief to the public.
However, the JI clarified that its sit-ins and protests in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other cities would continue throughout the negotiation process and until its demands were met.
JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah announced the decision at a press conference in Lahore.
The press conference was held amid the JI’s nationwide shutter-down strike, which received a mixed response. There was strong compliance in parts of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with thinner traffic and commercial areas largely deserted. Major markets, shopping malls and business centres remained closed in cities such as Karachi. In contrast, businesses in Punjab and Balochistan remained largely operational.
Party says sit-ins, protests will continue during the talks
Addressing the press conference, Mr Iqbal said a government delegation comprising himself, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique had met the JI leadership at the party’s headquarters in Lahore.
He said the government would constitute an expert committee and had asked the JI to form a similar committee to jointly discuss measures for reducing the petroleum levy.
The government currently levies Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.
“The government will happily act upon recommendations put forward by these committees,” Mr Iqbal said, adding that both sides had agreed that relief should be provided to the public.
“We requested them [JI] to form a team, and then we will negotiate on practical recommendations for relief,” he said.
The government would also present its position and act on the recommendations put forward by the committees, the minister added.
“Pakistan’s interest is a priority,” Mr Iqbal said, adding that the government would not allow any foreign element to exploit internal instability. “We have to work together for internal peace and stability.”
According to the minister, the JI had assured the government that it would not make any demand that was against the country’s interests.
He appreciated the JI’s peaceful campaign but cautioned that protests should not be allowed to disrupt public order. He also referred to the government’s commitments under its programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
‘No obstinate demands’
Addressing the press conference, the JI chief said Thursday marked the 19th day of his party’s sit-ins against the petroleum levy at more than 20 locations across the country.
“There is no personal agenda behind the sit-ins; it is based on issues faced by the public on a daily basis, along with other major problems,” he said.
Mr Rehman said ordinary citizens were bearing a disproportionate tax burden on petroleum products. “A common bike rider, whose income is non-taxable, is paying 35pc in taxes on every litre of petrol,” he said.
He said the party had agreed with the government to constitute an expert committee headed by JI vice chief Liaquat Baloch. The committee includes JI deputy secretary Syed Firasat Shah, Lahore chief Ziauddin Ansari, Islamabad chief Nasrullah Randhawa and Naveed Ali Baig.
“Primarily, we think that the petroleum levy should be abolished and petroleum prices should be lowered,” he said.
The JI chief assured the government that his party would not make “obstinate demands”.
He said the government delegation had requested the party to postpone its sit-ins, but the JI had decided to continue the protests alongside negotiations.
“The sit-ins will continue throughout the negotiation process. JI’s peaceful struggle should not be mistaken for weakness,” he said.
He said the JI’s technical team had prepared detailed proposals for abolishing the petroleum levy and would present them during the negotiations.
The party, he added, would also explain how consumer relief could be provided without compromising the country’s economic stability.
Meanwhile, PM’s Adviser Sanaullah said formal negotiations between the government and JI committees would begin on Monday.
He hoped the committees would reach a workable solution within two weeks.
Mr Sanaullah further said the government would act on the recommendations put forward by the committees.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026
