LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has rejected the federal government’s latest revision in petroleum prices, terming the Rs1.97 per litre reduction “regrettable and anti-people”, and announced countrywide demonstrations within the next 48 hours.
The JI chief’s statement comes amid mounting public anger after the government late Thursday night announced marginal cuts in petrol and high-speed diesel prices, even as it raised the petroleum levy on petrol by Rs6.22 per litre to Rs70.36.
“The government is robbing the people’s rights by not making a major reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel,” Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said in a statement. “Despite the pre-war prices in the global market, the government has announced a reduction of only Rs1.97, which is regrettable.”
According to the Ministry of Energy’s notification, the ex-depot price of motor spirit (MS) was reduced to Rs297.53 per litre from Rs299.50, while high-speed diesel (HSD) was cut to Rs309.50 per litre from Rs311.47, effective July 4.
Sources confirmed that the price of kerosene oil was also raised by Rs4.09 per litre, though it was not included in the official press release.
The JI leader announced that his party would unveil a schedule for nationwide protests within 48 hours to “force the government to pass on the full benefit of falling global oil prices to the people”.
The fresh criticism follows last week’s controversial levy adjustment, when the government on July 1 doubled the climate support levy on petrol and diesel from Rs2.50 to Rs5 per litre, while simultaneously reducing the petroleum levy by Rs2.50. The move had kept retail prices unchanged despite a sharp decline in international crude benchmarks.
Energy analysts note that global oil prices have now retreated to levels last seen before February 28, yet domestic consumers continue to pay near-record rates.
The Shehbaz Sharif government, which has drawn international praise in recent weeks for its diplomatic role in mediating between the United States and Iran, has so far failed to translate the global slump into significant local relief.
“With Brent back to its pre-war benchmark, households expected prices to return to the February 28 level. Instead, the fiscal space has been consumed by higher levies,” said Karachi-based energy analyst Fahad Ali.
Hafiz Naeem maintained that the government’s approach reflected “economic insensitivity”. “When global prices rise, the burden is shifted to the public within hours. When they fall, the benefit is denied through levies,” he said.
Consumer rights groups have echoed the concern, arguing that the token reduction of under Rs2 per litre was nullified by the Rs6.22 hike in petroleum levy and the earlier increase in climate support levy.
