Govt and Jamaat-e-Islami to hold final round of petroleum levy talks on Nov 10
The government and Jamaat-e-Islami will hold the final round of talks on abolishing the petroleum levy on Tuesday, 10 November. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar phoned JI deputy chief Liaqat Baloch to discuss the negotiations.
- Final round of government-JI talks is set for 10 November, 24NewsHD reported.
- Sources say the government has agreed to phase out the levy and give relief to 1000cc vehicles and agriculture.
- JI says it may launch a long march if relief is not given.
The government and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will hold the final round of talks on abolishing the petroleum levy and a relief package for the public on Tuesday, 10 November, 24NewsHD TV channel reported. Daily Pakistan and Express News said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar contacted JI deputy chief Liaqat Baloch by telephone on Friday, and the two discussed the talks in detail.
Express News quoted the deputy prime minister as saying that JI's protest had achieved many of its goals for public relief.
Earlier, Daily Pakistan Urdu reported that committees of the two sides were to meet in Islamabad to prepare a draft agreement on phasing out the levy on petroleum products. According to sources cited by the outlet, the government has agreed to a phased elimination of the levy, relief for 1000cc vehicles and relief in the agriculture sector.
The final draft is to be approved by the leadership of both sides. Liaqat Baloch said, in words reported by Daily Pakistan Urdu, that JI chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman would personally review the draft agreed by both sides. After consultation with him and other party leaders, the progress of the talks and the next course of action will be announced.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday after chairing a party meeting on the issue, Baloch said, according to Business Recorder, that negotiations had reached the final stage and that responsibility for their success rested with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Baloch also warned that JI would be justified in launching a long march if the government failed to provide relief to people hit by inflation, Business Recorder reported. Other reports said JI warned of renewed protests if the levy was not abolished.
Background
khabr.pk's records show petrol at Rs346 per litre and high-speed diesel at Rs378 per litre on 7 November. On 7 November khabr.pk also reported that the prime minister had ordered licences cancelled for pumps denying subsidised fuel to registered beneficiaries under the Fuel Relief Programme, which has more than 15.5 million registrants.
Why it matters
Any change to the petroleum levy would affect the price households and transporters pay for fuel. Petrol was Rs346 and diesel Rs378 per litre on 7 November. Relief for 1000cc vehicles and agriculture, if agreed, would concern motorists and farmers in particular.
