JI Says Fuel Relief Agreed, Levy Fight Goes On
JI petroleum levy talks ended on Tuesday with two different accounts of what was agreed. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said the government had agreed to fuel relief for farmers, public transport and certain vehicles. The government side did not confirm an end to the petroleum levy, and said talks would continue.
Acting JI Emir Liaqat Baloch spoke at a press conference after meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He said negotiations on removing the levy had reached their final stage. He said the government had accepted that JI’s demands were valid after the party’s nationwide protest campaign and its six-point proposals.
Baloch said work on refinery profits and a gradual end to the petroleum levy was near completion, and a working paper would follow. He said JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman would announce the party’s next step after reviewing the final draft agreement. Baloch also claimed the government had agreed to extend relief to owners of vehicles up to 1,000cc.
JI petroleum levy talks: what the government confirmed
The Foreign Office gave a more careful account. It said both sides held candid discussions on relief for low-income citizens hit by rising energy costs. It said they agreed to keep talking over the coming days. It did not confirm any agreement to remove the levy.
Government negotiators told JI that fuel prices depend on international oil rates, which are rising. They said they had already given every possible relief. That gap matters, because JI’s claims go further than the official statement supports.
The talks followed a meeting last week between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI leaders. Both sides then agreed to form a bipartisan committee to expand the government’s fuel relief scheme. JI has warned it will resume its postponed march to Islamabad by mid-November if no relief is announced.
The existing relief scheme already covers owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc. It was rolled out across the country on September 17. JI now wants that cover widened, and it wants the petroleum levy abolished in full.
Why the levy is hard to remove
Nothing changes at the pump yet. Petrol and diesel prices stay the same until a final deal is signed and notified. That is the clearest practical point for motorists and farmers today.
The levy itself is a major revenue source. The government aims to collect Rs1.6 trillion from the petroleum levy in the current fiscal year. A full or gradual end to the levy would therefore leave a large hole in the budget, unless other revenue or spending changes filled it.
That tension explains the shape of the talks. JI is pushing for abolition, while the government is offering targeted relief within the existing system. Feature Pakistan earlier reported on the petrol and diesel price cut of November 3 and on the refinery arrangement behind it. JI’s own campaign is also on record: Feature Pakistan earlier covered JI’s third wave of fuel protests.
If the reported relief goes ahead, farmers, transporters and some vehicle owners would benefit first. If it does not, JI’s mid-November march warning will be the next test of the talks. The final draft agreement, once reviewed by Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, will show which side of that gap the government has actually accepted.
Frequently asked questions
What did JI claim after the talks?
JI said the government agreed to fuel relief for the agriculture sector, public transport and owners of vehicles up to 1,000cc. Acting JI Emir Liaqat Baloch said work on a gradual end to the petroleum levy was near completion.
Did the government confirm an end to the petroleum levy?
No. The Foreign Office said both sides held candid discussions and agreed to continue talks. It did not confirm any agreement to remove the levy.
Does anything change at the pump now?
No. Petrol and diesel prices stay the same until a final deal is signed and notified. Any relief would apply only after that step.
Who already gets fuel relief?
The existing scheme covers owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc. It was rolled out across the country on September 17.
What happens if the talks fail?
JI has warned it will resume its postponed march to Islamabad by mid-November if no relief is announced. JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman will announce the party’s next step after reviewing the final draft agreement.
