ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, terming Pakistan’s governance system “oppressive” and heavily influenced by IMF policies.
Addressing a press conference, he criticized the government and said there is no real difference among ruling coalition parties, accusing them of engaging in political theatrics for vested interests.
He said that the federal budget reflects IMF pressure and that authorities themselves admit the country is under IMF constraints. He added that rising prices of electricity, petrol, and gas are directly affecting the public, while petroleum levy has become the government’s major source of revenue.
Hafiz Naeem also criticized the agriculture sector’s conditions and said the budget is merely an exercise of manipulating figures rather than providing relief to the public.
He demanded that the petroleum levy be immediately abolished and suggested that the government should limit official vehicles to 1300cc. He also alleged large-scale corruption within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), claiming that hundreds of billions are lost annually.
He further said that Pakistan’s debt has reached unsustainable levels and warned that interest payments alone will exceed 800 billion rupees, adding that the burden ultimately falls on the poor.
Calling for a broader movement against the current economic system, he said education spending remains extremely low while schools and hospitals are being outsourced.
He added that both government and private sector employees are facing severe financial pressure, while the budget offers little relief to ordinary citizens.
