According to Dawn, the Pakistani government and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) have agreed to establish a joint committee tasked with recommending measures to broaden an ongoing fuel relief scheme and lower the petroleum levy. The agreement was reached during a meeting at the PM House between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. However, JI announced that it would proceed with a planned protest march to Islamabad in mid-November if a satisfactory relief package is not announced before then.
What happened
According to reports by Dawn, the meeting was arranged after the Prime Minister invited JI leadership for talks to discuss rising fuel prices. Both sides agreed to form a six-member panel to negotiate the framework for expanding fuel subsidies and reducing the petroleum levy. Despite agreeing to participate in negotiations, JI leadership affirmed that nationwide mobilization for its protest march will continue simultaneously.
Key facts
- The joint committee will feature three government representatives: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and political adviser Rana Sanaullah.
- The three members representing JI on the committee are Liaquat Baloch, Syed Farasat Shah, and Nasrullah Randhawa.
- The panel is tasked with creating proposals to expand petrol subsidies for deserving citizens and outlining a phased reduction of the petroleum levy for upcoming budget planning.
- The existing relief scheme, launched on September 17, targets owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles up to 800cc, with 12.7 million people registered so far.
- The exact timeframe for the committee to submit its final report was not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, the discussions reflect growing tensions over public economic strain caused by rising international oil prices and regional instability in the Middle East. Prime Minister Shehbaz stated that the price hikes stem from global factors rather than government policy, emphasizing current subsidy efforts within the nation's financial capacity. Conversely, JI demands the complete elimination of the petroleum levy to reduce the burden on citizens, claiming its public demonstrations pressured the administration into launching the initial relief program. While both sides agree on expanding relief, disagreements remain over procedural details and timing.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 27, 2026 · Photo by Rogelio Gonzalez on Unsplash
