Summary Government ministers and Jamaat-i-Islami leaders held talks on petroleum prices and fuel relief, with JI pressing for a reduction in the petroleum levy.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) delegation led by Liaquat Baloch held talks with federal ministers on Tuesday over petroleum prices and government relief measures, with the party calling for a reduction in the petroleum levy and longer-term measures to ease the burden on consumers.
The delegation met Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and received a briefing on the petroleum sector, fuel supplies and the government's relief measures.
Malik said the government had ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies across the country during the recent crisis and was taking measures to protect consumers and maintain availability.
The JI delegation welcomed the government's fuel relief measures but called for sustainable solutions to the underlying issues affecting petroleum prices.
Baloch particularly stressed the need to reduce the petroleum levy as part of efforts to provide broader relief to consumers.
The delegation was also briefed on the petroleum pricing mechanism based on a seven-day rolling average.
Malik said targeted subsidies were being provided for motorcycles, Qingqi rickshaws and small cars, describing targeted assistance as an effective way of directing relief towards deserving segments of society.
The petroleum minister also discussed plans to upgrade domestic refineries, saying the programme would help increase production of Euro-5 fuel as well as petrol and diesel.
He said refinery upgrades would also help reduce Pakistan's dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Tarar said providing relief to the public remained a top priority of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Kayani said the government was working to broaden the tax base and increase reliance on direct taxation.
The ministers assured the JI delegation that its recommendations would be conveyed to the prime minister.
Baloch said public pressure on the government was evident and that it was now for the prime minister to decide how to respond.
He maintained that petroleum prices could be reduced despite fluctuations in international oil markets.
The meeting comes amid public concern over fuel costs and their wider impact on transport fares, household expenses and prices of essential goods.
