The government in a crucial round of talks with Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday agreed to extend a fuel relief package to farmers and owners of vehicles up to 1000cc. Jamaat-e-Islami Naib Emir Liaqat Baloch, while addressing a news conference after a meeting of delegations from the two sides, said that negotiations between the government and the Jamaat-e-Islami over the abolition of petroleum levy and provision of relief to the public have entered their final stage.

Both sides, he said, have acknowledged that abolishing the petroleum levy was essential, while the government has also agreed to provide relief to the agricultural sector and owners of vehicles up to 1000cc. Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar led the government team in talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Baloch described Tuesday's sitting as the final round of negotiations, during which four key points were discussed. Baloch said the Jamaat-e-Islami had presented six proposals to the government to provide relief to the people.

These included abolishing the petroleum levy, introducing a relief package, reducing public transport costs and extending relief to owners of vehicles above 800cc and the agricultural sector. He maintained that although the government had announced some relief measures, the ruling elite remained unwilling to surrender their privileges.

He criticised the government for allowing oil refineries to earn excessive profits and said there was no solid justification for continuing the petroleum levy. He said both negotiating teams would prepare working papers on the gradual elimination of the levy and measures to provide relief to the public, while discussions will continue today.