JI and Dar hold 'candid discussions' on fuel relief, agree to continue talks in coming days

The government and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Tuesday held “candid discussions” on practical measures to provide relief to low-income citizens in petroleum prices. After a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, both sides agreed to form a bipartisan committee to expand the government’s ongoing fuel relief scheme in response to JI’s demands for the abolition of the petroleum levy. JI also warned of resuming its postponed march to Islamabad by mid-November if no relief was announced. Subsequently, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday held a meeting with a JI delegation, led by its Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch, to discuss petroleum prices in the country, according to the Dar-led Foreign Office (FO).

“The two sides held 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,” the FO statement said. Both sides agreed to continue their consultations over the coming days to formulate a way forward on energy pricing and public relief, it added. During the meeting, DPM Dar reiterated the “government’s commitment to prioritising public welfare and facilitating ordinary citizens amidst global economic challenges”, the statement said. He also emphasised that “sustained cross-party dialogue” remained key to addressing national economic challenges “effectively”. According to the statement, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Adviser to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, the finance secretary, and the Petroleum Division’s special secretary also attended the meeting from the government’s side. JI claims agreement on inclusion of 1,000cc cars in scheme After the meeting with the government’s team, the JI vice emir…