Dar reaffirms govt's commitment to public relief in meeting with JI delegation

"Dar met with the JI delegation led by Liaquat Baloch, holding candid discussions on practical measures to provide relief to the common man, with a specific focus on easing the economic burden on low-income citizens," said the Foreign Office in a post on X.The meeting came after the government and JI, on October 27, agreed toform a six-member committeeto finalise recommendations on expanding the existing petrol relief scheme and preparing proposals for a phased reduction in the petroleum levy.

Under the agreement, three members each from the government and JI would examine measures to broaden the scope of the ongoingPM fuel relief schemeto ensure that the maximum number of deserving people benefit from it. Read:Govt stands firm on petroleum levy.

Agreeing to continue consultations, Dar also "reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritising public welfare and facilitating ordinary citizens amidst global economic challenges. "He also "emphasised that sustained cross-party dialogue remains key to addressing national economic challenges effectively.

"The Foreign Office stated that the meeting was attended by the Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, along with the finance secretary and the Special secretary for petroleum.

BackgroundJI’s campaign against the petroleum levy intensified in August, when the party organised demonstrations and sit-ins across the country against rising fuel prices, inflation and what it described as an additional tax burden on consumers. On August 16, JI workers stagedsit-ins outside governors’houses in the provincial capitals, demanding the withdrawal of the levy and a reduction in petrol prices.

The party subsequently expanded its protests to other cities, including Karachi, where it establishedadditional protest campsacross Sindh. JI maintained that the government should abolish the levy rather than offer limited reductions in fuel prices. On September 3, the government and JI agreed to establish technical committees to examine proposals for reducing the petroleum levy and fuel prices.

During thefirst round of negotiationson September 7, the party submitted six proposals to the government, while insisting that its protests would continue until meaningful relief was provided. However, the negotiations failed to resolve the dispute.

On September 12, JI chief announced along march towards Islamabadfor September 20, warning that the party would intensify its campaign if the government did not abolish the levy. Read More:JI launches third phase of protest campaign against petroleum levy.

The march began on September 20, with participants travelling from Karachi by train. The caravan moved through Sukkur towards Multan, where Naeem addressed supporters. The march was subsequently suspended after PM Shehbaz telephoned the JI chief and requested that the party postpone its protest to allow further negotiations.

JI agreed to give the government an opportunity for talks but maintained that it had not abandoned its demand. The party’s position was that negotiations and protests could continue simultaneously, with any agreement required to address the complete abolition of the levy.

The JI chief then gave the government 10 days to abolish the petroleum levy and provide meaningful relief to the inflation-hit public, warning that his party wouldresume its long marchtowards Islamabad in mid-November if its demands were not met.