ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) deputy chief Liaquat Baloch said on Tuesday that the government and his party had agreed on the basic outlines of a proposed agreement on petroleum levy relief during the 10th round of negotiations, with a final decision expected after a possible meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.
Speaking to reporters after talks with the government’s negotiating team, Mr Baloch said the proposed meeting between the prime minister and the JI chief would involve detailed discussions before the agreement was finalised.
The Foreign Office (FO) also shared a statement about the meeting, saying that there was “broad agreement” regarding the need to address public concerns “through continued consultation and cooperation”.
At his media talk, Mr Baloch was accompanied by members of the JI negotiating committee, including deputy secretary Syed Firasat Shah, JI North KP Emir Inayatullah Khan, Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari and Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa.
Mr Baloch described Tuesday’s meeting as the most important round of negotiations after nine previous sessions.
He stressed that securing relief for the people remained the central objective of the JI campaign. He said discussions focused on two key aspects: providing relief to consumers and reaching an agreement on measures to achieve that objective.
“The government has acknowledged that the international situation was creating difficulties in the supply of petroleum products,” he said, adding that both sides had agreed to expand and continue the existing relief package.
He said it was the government’s responsibility to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure the continuation of relief measures.
The JI had proposed extending the relief scheme to vehicles with engine capacities of up to 1,000cc and the agriculture sector, including tractors, he added.
“The JI has presented its position to the government through negotiations, and the process has now reached the stage of final decisions,” he said, adding that the two sides had also worked on drafting the proposed agreement during Tuesday’s meeting.
Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2026
