Lahore, September 3, 2026: The federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) on Thursday agreed to form separate expert committees to examine measures for reducing the petroleum levy and providing relief to consumers, while the JI decided to continue its nationwide sit-ins alongside negotiations.
The decision was announced at a joint press conference in Lahore by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah and JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman following a meeting between the government delegation and JI leadership.petr
Iqbal said the government would constitute an expert committee and had asked the JI to form a similar body to jointly examine practical proposals for reducing the petroleum levy.
The government currently collects around Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.
“The government will happily act upon recommendations put forward by these committees,” Iqbal said, stressing that both sides agreed on the need to provide relief to the public.
He said the government would present its position during the discussions and would take action on recommendations agreed upon by the committees.
“We requested them [JI] to form a team, and then we will negotiate on practical recommendations for relief,” the minister said.
Iqbal also emphasised that national interests would remain the government’s priority, saying Pakistan would not allow any foreign element to exploit internal instability.
“Pakistan’s interest is a priority,” he said, adding that all stakeholders needed to work together to maintain internal peace and stability.
According to the minister, the JI had assured the government that it would not make any demand contrary to the country’s interests.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the party had discussed the petroleum levy and other public issues with the government during the meeting earlier in the day.
He said Thursday marked the 19th day of JI sit-ins being held at more than 20 locations across the country, insisting that the protests were aimed at highlighting issues affecting ordinary citizens rather than serving any personal or political agenda.
“There is no personal agenda behind the sit-ins; it is based on issues faced by the public on a daily basis, along with other major problems,” Rehman said.
He argued that ordinary consumers were carrying a disproportionate tax burden on petroleum products.
“A common bike rider, whose income is non-taxable, is paying 35pc in taxes on every litre of petrol,” he said.
Rehman said the JI had agreed to constitute its own expert committee, headed by Liaquat Baloch. The committee will include Naveed Ali Baig, Ziaddun Ansari, Nasrullah Randhawa and Farasat Shah.
“Primarily, we think that the petroleum levy should be abolished and petroleum prices should be lowered,” the JI chief said.
He assured the government that his party would not put forward “obstinate demands” during the negotiations and would consider practical proposals aimed at providing relief to the public.
Despite the agreement to begin negotiations, Rehman said the JI had rejected the government’s request to postpone its sit-ins.
He said the government delegation had asked the party to suspend the protests, but the JI had decided to continue its demonstrations while talks on the petroleum levy proceeded.
The development comes amid growing pressure over fuel prices and petroleum taxation, with the JI maintaining that the levy has placed an excessive financial burden on consumers.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said the expert committees constituted by the government and the JI were expected to reach a workable solution within two weeks.
He said the government would act upon the recommendations emerging from the committees.
The JI had announced on August 16 that it would stage sit-ins in all provincial capitals against the petroleum levy. The party had also called for a nationwide strike on September 3 as part of its campaign for reduction in fuel prices and relief from what it described as excessive taxation.
