Joint JI-govt committee to mull ways to expand fuel relief scheme

The government and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Tuesday decided to form a joint committee to recommend proposals for expanding the ongoing fuel relief scheme , while JI warned of marching to Islamabad next month if no relief “package” was announced by then. The decision was made during a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman at the PM House, according to a press release issued by the PM Office (PMO). The meeting was offered by PM Shehbaz last month when urging JI to postpone its Islamabad march, which it had accepted. JI has been demanding the abolition of the petroleum levy to reduce the burden of heightened fuel prices on the public.

Tuesday’s meeting decided that a committee, comprising three members each from the government and JI, will present final recommendations on the following two measures: Expansion of the scope of the ongoing relief scheme on petrol for the public so that the maximum number of deserving people can benefit from it Preparation of feasible proposals for the budget for a phased reduction in the petroleum levy Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and the PM’s political adviser Rana Sanaullah will represent the government in the joint committee, PMO stated. The premier informed the JI delegation in detail about the relief provided so far by the government in the petroleum products quota for the low-income segment, noting that 12. 7 million people have registered in the subsidy scheme so far. The relief scheme for owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles of up to 800cc was rolled out across the country on Sept 17. PM Shehbaz had announced the subsidies to ease the public’s burden amid rising fuel prices due to the Middle East situation. During the…