Summary Liaqat Baloch says protests will continue during negotiations
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The first round of talks between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on the elimination of the petroleum levy has concluded, with the opposition party presenting six proposals aimed at providing relief to the public.
The two sides will meet again on Thursday after the government consults relevant institutions on the recommendations. The talks were held in Islamabad as JI continues its campaign against the petroleum levy and rising fuel costs.
The government delegation was led by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, while JI also sent a delegation to the negotiations. The meeting focused specifically on the petroleum levy and measures that could reduce the financial burden on consumers.
Proposals reviewed
Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal said the government had invited JI for negotiations and sought proposals regarding the petroleum levy.
The planning minister said the government did not want to place an additional burden on the public. However, he said economies around the world had been affected by the Iran war and that governments were sometimes compelled to take difficult measures under such circumstances.
Iqbal said JI had submitted its proposals and the government would examine them after obtaining the views of the relevant institutions. If any of the recommendations were found to be impractical, he said, JI would also be informed.
The minister added that the government and JI would resume negotiations on Thursday after consultations with the concerned institutions.
Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah, who is also part of the negotiating committee, was asked by a journalist about matters concerning the provinces. He asked reporters to restrict their questions to the petroleum levy.
JI demands relief
JI Deputy Emir Liaqat Baloch described the first round of negotiations as having taken place in a cordial atmosphere. He said, however, that the party's sit-ins, protests and public gatherings would continue during the talks.
Baloch said JI had formed its own negotiating team over the petroleum levy, while the government committee had asked the party to postpone its sit-ins. JI, he said, had instead given priority to negotiations because its primary objective was to secure relief for the public.
He expressed hope that the next round of talks would result in measures providing relief to consumers.
Baloch alleged that the government had collected excessive amounts from the public in the name of the petroleum levy. He said the levy on petrol and diesel was approximately Rs80 and called for its removal.
He said JI was aware of how fuel prices were determined in line with international market rates and stressed that the party was not making an unreasonable demand, but seeking relief for consumers.
The JI leader said the party had presented six proposals to the government that could help provide relief if implemented. He also called for cuts in non-development expenditure.
Baloch further said frequent increases in fuel prices had created difficulties for the public. He maintained that removing what he described as an unjustified levy on petrol would provide relief across the board, adding that economic activity could only gain momentum when the public received relief.
