‎10 Days to Scrap Levy: Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman Warns Govt

KARACHI, Oct 28: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has warned that his party will launch a long march to Islamabad in mid-November if the government fails to abolish the petroleum levy within 10 days.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq on Wednesday, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had agreed during their meeting on Tuesday to expand the relief package for petroleum consumers, but JI remained firm on its demand for the complete abolition of the levy. Karachi JI Emir Munim Zafar, Karachi Vice Emir and KMC Opposition leader Saifuddin Advocate, Karachi Vice Emir Muslim Pervez and other leaders were also present at the press conference.

Rehman said he had conveyed the party’s demand clearly to the prime minister, who had sought 10 days to make a decision. The government had argued that the levy was a major source of federal revenue, but the JI emir rejected this justification.

He said the federal government collected around Rs150 billion monthly through the petroleum levy, while its relief package amounted to Rs32 billion, according to the government. This meant consumers were paying at least Rs110 billion more each month than the amount being returned through relief measures, he added.

The JI emir criticised the government for relying on petroleum taxes instead of addressing weaknesses in tax collection and governance. He said that corruption amounting to Rs1.3 trillion annually in the FBR was undermining the tax system, while ordinary citizens continued to bear the financial burden.

He questioned the rationale for imposing additional costs on the public when the government’s own tax collection machinery was failing to fulfil its responsibilities.

Rehman also highlighted the rising profits for powerful business interests despite the economic difficulties faced by ordinary Pakistanis. He said that oil refineries’ profits had increased by 1,100 per cent, while oil marketing companies and dealers were also earning higher margins.

He further criticised payments to IPPs, saying the government was paying around Rs1.8 trillion annually for electricity that was not being generated.

The JI emir lamented that, apart from his party, no political party, whether in the government or opposition, was raising its voice effectively against the financial burden on the public.

He said JI had been campaigning against the petroleum levy for an extended period and would intensify its protests if the government failed to provide meaningful relief.

“Preparations for the Islamabad march will continue. If the public does not receive relief, caravans from across the country will head to Islamabad in mid-November,” he said.

The JI leader also referred to JI’s campaign against IPPs, saying it had helped secure electricity relief for consumers, although power prices remained high.

He criticised the billing system for protected electricity consumers, arguing that even a small increase beyond the 200-unit monthly threshold could lead to a sharp rise in bills. He called on the government to end an unfair burden on low-income households.

He said the government had held negotiations with 47 IPPs following JI’s campaign, resulting in an estimated Rs1.45 trillion benefit to the national exchequer.