ISLAMABAD, (daily paklish): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that he fully understood the burden imposed on the public by increases in petroleum product prices. He stated that the current crisis was not the result of government policies but was linked to rising oil prices amid regional and international developments.
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Jamaat-e-Islami delegation led by Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman.
The delegation included Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Liaqat Baloch, Syed Farasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, and Inayatullah.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kiani were also present at the meeting.
The Prime Minister thanked the Jamaat-e-Islami delegation for choosing the path of negotiations regarding petroleum product prices.
The JI delegation expressed its position on abolishing the petroleum levy and providing relief to the public.
The Prime Minister said that he fully understood the burden imposed on the public by increases in petroleum product prices. Referring to the relief measures introduced by the government for low-income groups in response to the recent regional situation, he said that the government was making all-out diplomatic efforts to resolve the regional crisis and restore normalcy.
He stated that the current crisis was not the result of government policies but was linked to rising oil prices amid regional and international developments. However, he added that the government was providing relief to the public within its financial capacity and would continue to do so.
The Prime Minister briefed the delegation in detail on the relief provided by the government to low-income groups in connection with petroleum products. He informed the delegation that 12.7 million people had registered for the scheme so far.
It was agreed during the meeting that a committee comprising three members each from the government and Jamaat-e-Islami would submit final recommendations on the following measures:
Expansion of the existing petrol relief scheme: The scope of the ongoing petrol relief scheme should be expanded to enable the maximum number of deserving people to benefit from it.
Gradual reduction in the petroleum levy: Practical and financially viable proposals should be formulated for the upcoming budget to facilitate a phased reduction in the petroleum levy.
The Prime Minister nominated Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah to represent the government on the committee.