ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami on Friday pressed the government to slash fuel prices in the sixth round of negotiations over the petroleum levy, demanding petrol be sold at Rs242 a litre and diesel at Rs265.
JI senior leader Liaqat Baloch, who led his party’s delegation at Punjab House in Islamabad, said after the session that the government was collecting an additional Rs162 per litre on petrol and Rs148 per litre on diesel in the form of the petroleum levy, according to Samaa TV.
The government side was led by Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah. Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani also attended, while Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik joined the talks via video link.
The session focused on the levy and JI’s long-standing demand for cheaper fuel. Baloch said the party had made its position for lower prices clear to the government, and that Friday’s sitting was the sixth meeting between the two sides on the issue.
The talks concluded without any announced agreement, with JI restating its demands at the end of the session. The party has said its nationwide protest movement against the petroleum levy will continue alongside the negotiations.
The negotiations follow Friday’s scheduled meeting between the two sides. Read our preview: Govt, JI meet Friday over petroleum levy ahead of protests.
