Govt-JI talks on petroleum levy removal enter final stage, says Liaquat Baloch

Talks between the federal government and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on removing the petroleum levy and easing costs for consumers have reached a final stage, JI leader Liaquat Baloch said on Tuesday. The discussions took place at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and a JI delegation, while the Foreign Office said both sides would continue consultations on energy pricing and public relief.

Baloch said the government had accepted the validity of JI’s demands and that relief had been agreed for agriculture, public transport and some vehicle categories. He said officials would complete work on oil refinery profits and gradual levy removal by Monday, November 9, with a working paper due on November 10. The Foreign Office did not confirm an agreement to abolish the levy, saying consultations would continue before a final draft is reviewed and JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announces the party’s next steps.