ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has called for the complete withdrawal of the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL), saying the measure is necessary to provide relief to consumers.
Hafiz Naeem is leading the party’s march towards Islamabad against high fuel prices and the petroleum levy.
The JI had called off its protest sit-ins on Sunday as party workers and supporters began travelling from Karachi to Islamabad by train under the leadership of Hafiz Naeem.
Speaking to the media, the JI chief said the government was placing an increasing financial burden on the public. He said the party had held five rounds of talks with the government and had identified areas where spending could be reduced.
Hafiz Naeem alleged that the government was unwilling to cut what he described as unnecessary expenditures and said the JI would continue its protest until the issue was resolved.
He reiterated on Tuesday that the protest would continue until the petroleum levy was withdrawn.
“They are offering Rs25 billion in monthly relief but avoiding withdrawing the levy,” Hafiz Naeem said.
He further claimed that the government had collected Rs1,567 billion through the petroleum levy during the previous year.
The JI has been protesting against high petroleum prices and is demanding the removal of the levy to reduce the financial burden on consumers.