SUKKUR (Dunya News) — Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded the complete withdrawal of the petroleum levy, saying the measure is necessary to provide relief to the public amid rising inflation.
Addressing a press conference in Sukkur, Hafiz Naeem said five rounds of negotiations had been held over the petroleum levy. He said the government claimed it would not impose the levy, but questioned where the money would come from if the levy was withdrawn.
He said the petroleum levy had placed a burden of Rs135 billion on the public, urging the government to take steps to protect people from the ongoing wave of inflation.
Hafiz Naeem said the petroleum levy should be completely abolished to provide relief to the people, adding that rising inflation had made life difficult for ordinary citizens.
The JI emir said the party's march and protest movement was for people across Pakistan, adding that the first phase of the protest march had been completed successfully.
He further said Jamaat-e-Islami had no intention of resorting to violence or arson. He added that reducing the policy rate could benefit the country's economy.
Recent reporting shows that the JI government's negotiations over the petroleum levy had reached five rounds, while the party continued its protest march towards Islamabad.