JI rejects Rs100 per litre petrol relief, demands complete withdrawal of petroleum levy: Liaqat Baloch

Baloch said the JI’s basic demand was the complete abolition of the petroleum levy and that protests would continue regardless of any temporary relief offered by the government.

He said the government’s proposed measures were temporary and symbolic and could not provide genuine relief to the public. According to Baloch, the Rs103 per litre levy on petrol and diesel was an unjust burden on consumers.

He said the government could provide direct relief to the people by removing the Rs103 per litre levy, adding that its abolition would reduce production costs and help revive economic activity.

Baloch said the JI had been listening to all government briefings during negotiations, but its position remained clear and firm.

He said the party’s campaign against the petroleum levy had progressed from an awareness campaign to road blockades, sit-ins and public gatherings, eventually leading to a major public march.

Baloch warned the government against assuming that the protest movement would end, saying it would continue to expand. He announced that the JI’s Islamabad march scheduled for September 20 would take place under all circumstances, with people from across the country expected to march towards the federal capital.

He said a clear message had already been conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that public protests would not stop.

Baloch said the JI had no personal or party interest in the campaign and was seeking relief for the people.

IPP savings

Baloch said the government had given the JI a detailed briefing on progress regarding Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

According to the briefing, the government had saved Rs4,540.98 billion through a review of IPP agreements. Baloch said matters involving 54 of the 104 IPPs had been finalised, while another 21 projects had reached the final stage.

He said termination of IPP agreements had resulted in savings of Rs350 billion, while the IPP programme covering the period from 1994 to 2002 had resulted in savings of Rs740 billion.

Baloch questioned why direct relief was not being provided to consumers despite billions of rupees being saved through changes to IPP agreements.

He said the government had achieved major financial savings following public pressure and that the benefit should now reach the people.

Criticism of government policies

Baloch accused the ruling elite of refusing to reduce their own expenses and said the government must end what he described as patronage of mafias to provide genuine relief to the public.

He also criticised the government’s handling of the sugar crisis, alleging that importers had previously been given benefits and that exporters were now being prepared to receive similar benefits.

He claimed that people associated with ruling political parties were benefiting from the sugar-related decisions and called for an end to what he described as support for refineries and mafias.

Baloch said the government was too weak to take difficult decisions despite knowing what needed to be done.

He also called for Pakistan to make its own economic decisions instead of becoming dependent on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Loadshedding

Baloch also raised concerns over ongoing power outages, saying severe loadshedding during extreme weather had increased public difficulties.

He claimed that consumers were facing two to four hours of loadshedding at night, depriving them of comfort and basic facilities.

He said the issue of severe loadshedding had been raised with Power Division officials and demanded an end to prolonged outages.

JI demands final decision in talks

Baloch said the government had limited time and would have to take a final decision in the next round of negotiations.

He warned that the government was gradually reducing the space available for negotiations and urged it to announce genuine relief for the people at the next meeting.

He said further delays in negotiations were neither in the national interest nor beneficial for the public.

According to Baloch, the JI’s protest has continued for 31 days and is aimed at securing relief for the people.

He reiterated that the government would not be able to end the protest movement without abolishing the petroleum levy.

Baloch said the party’s objective was to reduce production costs, revive economic activity and create employment by providing genuine relief to the people.