Shehbaz meets JI delegation led by Hafiz Naeem
Both sides agree to form panel to weigh options
Expanding subsidy
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem at the PM House in Islamabad. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to providing relief to the public amid rising petroleum prices, as he met with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and agreed to form a six-member committee to prepare proposals for a phased reduction in the petroleum levy.
The prime minister acknowledged the burden that rising fuel prices had placed on citizens, particularly low-income households. He assured the JI delegation that the government would continue providing relief within its financial capacity while pursuing diplomacy to ease regional tensions and stabilise global oil markets.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiani. The JI delegation included Liaquat Baloch, Syed Farasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa and Inayatullah.
The meeting focused on petroleum prices, inflation and the broader economic situation, with the JI delegation presenting proposals to reduce the burden on consumers. The JI called for the complete abolition of the petroleum levy, while the government sought time to examine financially viable options.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz thanked the JI delegation for choosing dialogue on the issue of petroleum prices. He said the current crisis stemmed from regional and international developments rather than government policies.
“The government is making extensive diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and restore normality,” Shehbaz told the delegation. He also briefed the delegation on assistance already provided to lower-income groups through the government’s petroleum relief scheme.
The Prime Minister’s Office said 12.7 million people had registered under the programme so far.
The meeting agreed that a committee comprising three representatives each from the government and JI would formulate recommendations on two key measures: expanding the existing relief scheme to cover more deserving households and preparing feasible proposals for a phased reduction of the petroleum levy for consideration in the next federal budget.
Shehbaz nominated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah to represent the government on the committee.
Speaking after the meeting, Hafiz said the government had sought time to work out a solution, but his party remained firm on its demand. “The government has promised that relief will be provided. The question is not whether relief will be given, but how and when,” Hafiz said, adding that the prime minister had assured the party that the technical committees would be given eight to 10 days to formulate proposals.
The JI chief said the talks had not ended in failure because both sides had agreed on the need to ease the public’s financial burden. Nevertheless, he made it clear that his party would continue its protest campaign alongside negotiations and would not accept further delays without concrete action.
“The government should do whatever it has to do by mid-November; otherwise, the matter will be taken to the streets again,” he warned, threatening to resume the party’s long march towards Islamabad if its demands were not met.
Asked about a proposal to cut the levy, Hafiz said the government had put forward various proposals, but the JI remained committed to its demand for complete abolition of the levy. He claimed that the party’s campaign had already secured a Rs32-per-litre reduction in diesel prices.
Addressing a news conference alongside Rana Sanaullah, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the government was committed to protecting vulnerable sections of the society from the economic fallout of the regional crisis and rising international fuel prices.
Iqbal said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted oil supplies, while increased transportation, insurance and logistics costs had added to pressure on international energy markets. Countries across the world were also experiencing increases in petrol and diesel prices, he added.
He cautioned that relief measures had to remain within the country’s financial capacity to avoid creating further economic difficulties. Referring to the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Iqbal said fuel prices had been reduced despite rising international oil prices, placing severe pressure on public finances and pushing the country towards the brink of default.
“The relief must be sustainable, and its cost must be something we can afford,” he said, adding that the government wanted to provide the maximum possible assistance without undermining economic stability.
Rana Sanaullah said the government and the JI shared the objective of providing relief to ordinary citizens. He urged political parties to support the efforts of Pakistan’s political and military leadership, adding that Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives to promote regional peace were receiving international recognition.
