Pakistan Forms Committee to Expand Fuel Relief

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation led by Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman in Islamabad on Tuesday, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.

The committee, comprising three members from the government and three from Jamaat-e-Islami, will recommend measures to enhance the existing relief scheme on petrol and prepare proposals for a gradual reduction of the petroleum levy as part of the budget.

The Prime Minister briefed the delegation on relief measures for low-income groups, including a scheme that has so far registered 12.7 million people.

The government is providing relief to the public according to its financial capacity, Sharif said, adding that it will continue to do so in the future.

The current crisis is linked to the surge in oil prices due to the regional and global situation, not government policies, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah will represent the government in the committee.

The Jamaat-e-Islami delegation included Liaquat Baloch, Syed Firasat Shah, Nasrullah Randhawa, and Inayatullah.

The meeting was also attended by several other ministers, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.

Pakistan has been experiencing high inflation and rising fuel prices, which have put a strain on low-income families.

The government's relief scheme aims to provide assistance to those affected by the price hikes.