ISLAMABAD: The final round of talks between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami regarding abolition of petroleum levy and relief package for public will be held on November 10 (Tuesday).
This was announced by JI Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch on Saturday after holding a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar.
Ishaq Dar contacted Liaquat Baloch and updated him on the latest developments regarding their talks.
Liaquat Baloch said the government and Jamaat-e-Islami negotiation subcommittee had a meeting earlier, after which the technical committee had also completed its parleys.
Now the government should take steps for petroleum levy abolition and public relief, the JI deputy chief said and added the final round of negotiations between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami subcommittee will be held on November 10.
The meeting will be hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar at the Foreign Ministry building.
Ishaq Dar said Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest was within a peaceful democratic framework and it has achieved many goals for public relief.
Similarly, the issue of petroleum levy is also being addressed, he added.
JI warns of renewed protests
Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq in Karachi earlier in the day, JI Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned that his party will take to the streets again if the government fails to take action on abolishing the petroleum levy.
Hafiz Naeem said his party’s campaign against the petroleum levy would continue until the government provided relief to the public. He said he had raised the issue with Ishaq Dar, urging him to abolish the levy, adding the government was collecting Rs150 billion every month through this tax.
He said Dar had assured him that the government would share relevant figures within a day or two. He said Dar had argued that abolishing the levy would also benefit owners of larger vehicles.
In response, Hafiz Naeem proposed increasing the levy on expensive vehicles from Rs100 to Rs200 while providing relief to the middle and lower-income segments of the society.
The JI chief said he had also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who sought more time to consider additional relief measures. However, he reiterated that his party’s primary demand was the abolition of the petroleum levy.
Hafiz Naeem also assailed the federal and provincial governments, alleging that they had come to power through Form 47.
