Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami to form committee for fuel relief expansion

The Pakistani government and Jamaat-e-Islami have agreed to set up a joint committee to broaden the scope of the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme, Radio Pakistan reported.

The committee will have six members, with three from the government and three from Jamaat-e-Islami.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan will represent the government on the committee.

The committee's task is to consider expanding the scheme to help more people cope with rising global oil prices and to examine proposals for gradually removing the petroleum levy in the next budget.

Over ten million people currently benefit from the government's petroleum relief scheme, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

Iqbal emphasized that political stability, national unity, and restraint are crucial to overcoming Pakistan's economic challenges and ensuring the success of relief measures.

The global energy crisis, fueled by tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel, has driven up oil and diesel prices, insurance premiums, and transportation costs, and disrupted gas supplies, Iqbal said.

## Background Pakistan is struggling with significant economic challenges due to rising global oil prices and inflation.

The Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme aims to assist vulnerable segments of the population, and its expansion and the proposed withdrawal of the petroleum levy will likely have a substantial impact on the country's economy and the public's financial burden.