Hafiz Naeem Demands Removal of Petroleum Levy, Calls for Fuel Price Cut

JI Chief Urges Government to Reduce Petrol Prices

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has called on the government to abolish the petroleum levy and reduce fuel prices by Rs122 per litre, arguing that the burden is hurting ordinary citizens.

In a statement on Saturday, Hafiz Naeem said the government had collected around Rs3 trillion from the public through various levies and taxes.

“I have asked the prime minister to remove the burden of the levy from the people,” he said.

He proposed reducing the petrol price to Rs250 per litre and maintaining that rate for the next three years to provide relief to consumers and businesses.

Economy Can Grow Without Additional Levies

The JI chief argued that the economy could continue functioning effectively without imposing heavy levies on petroleum products.

“You do not need any levy. The economy can remain on track,” he said.

He warned that excessive taxation and rising fuel costs would increase economic hardship and place further pressure on the public.

“If the economy is not allowed to run smoothly, the people will continue to suffer,” he added.

JI Challenges Petroleum Levy in Constitutional Court

Earlier, Hafiz Naeem filed a constitutional petition challenging increases in petroleum prices and fuel-related levies, describing them as an unbearable burden on citizens.

The petition contests both the Petroleum Levy and the newly introduced Climate Support Levy (CSL), arguing that they violate constitutional principles, parliamentary authority, and citizens’ fundamental rights.

According to the petition, the Petroleum Levy has evolved from a regulatory surcharge into a major revenue source for the government.

Concerns Over Revenue Collection

The petition states that the levy on petrol has reached approximately Rs117.41 per litre, accounting for nearly 43 percent of the ex-refinery price.

It further claims that the government expects to collect around Rs1.47 trillion through the Petroleum Levy during fiscal year 2025-26, while total collections have already surpassed Rs6.3 trillion.

JI argues that these charges have significantly increased the cost of living and placed additional pressure on households across the country.

Read more:Karachi: PPP Failed to Resolve Water Crisis in 18 Years, Says Hafiz Naeem

Demand for Parliamentary Oversight

The party maintains that the levy is being imposed through executive notifications rather than direct parliamentary legislation.

Hafiz Naeem has urged the Constitutional Court to restore legal limits on the levy, strengthen parliamentary oversight, and declare the relevant provisions of the Finance Act 2025 unconstitutional.

The petition also asks the court to rule that the Petroleum Levy effectively functions as a tax and therefore should be subject to constitutional requirements governing taxation.