JI to begin march from Karachi on Sunday against petroleum levy: Hafiz Naeem 

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has announced that the party’s march against the petroleum levy will begin from Karachi on Sunday, as it steps up its campaign demanding an end to the levy..

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Saturday, JI chief said the government should abolish the levy instead of offering what he described as relief packages that failed to address the broader burden on consumers.

“People are finding it difficult to afford two meals a day, while the government is imposing such taxes,” he said.

Rehman said customs duty, climate support levy and petroleum levy together amounted to around Rs106-107 per litre, with additional charges and margins imposed by dealers, transporters, refineries and oil marketing companies.

Hafiz Naeem also criticised the government over its monetary policy, saying a reduction in the policy rate would provide savings comparable to the amount collected through the levy.

He rejected the government’s position that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and dependence on banks prevented such measures, and questioned the independence of the State Bank of Pakistan.

The JI chief also criticised the government’s fuel relief package, saying its eligibility criteria would exclude many motorcycle users. He said the package would provide only Rs500 a week in relief to those who qualified.

JI has been leading protests across Pakistan since mid-August, demanding a reduction in the petroleum levy following substantial increases in petrol and diesel prices linked to energy supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The government has imposed the petroleum levy as part of its commitments under ongoing loan programmes with the International Monetary Fund. Petrol currently carries Rs114 per litre in taxes, including a Rs80 per litre levy, while diesel carries Rs100 per litre in taxes and duties, including a Rs77.28 per litre levy. An additional Rs5 per litre climate support charge applies to both fuels.

Hafiz Naeem said the government had again contacted the party for talks, but insisted that any government team should come with a concrete proposal to abolish the levy.

He said JI had already held several rounds of talks with the government and would not call off its march based only on verbal assurances. 

He criticised the government’s handling of food prices, sugar mills, independent power producers and capacity payments, calling for measures that would provide broader relief to the public.