ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Sunday the government had established a committee to discuss demands laid by a Pakistani religious political party protesting rising costs of living by holding a sit-in in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Thousands of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party supporters have camped at Rawalpindi’s historic Liaqat Bagh ground to demand the government revoke additional taxes introduced in the federal budget presented last month, among other demands.
JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has demanded a reduction in power tariffs recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and a review of Pakistan’s loss-making agreements with independent power producers (IPPs).
The JI has also called on the Pakistani government to provide a 50 percent “relief” to people who consumed up to 500 units of electricity, abolish petroleum levy, and withdraw a recent hike in petroleum prices.
“The JI has presented 10 demands which will be discussed with the technical committee tomorrow to assess the available fiscal space,” Tarar told reporters, after the first round of talks with representatives of the JI.
“A technical committee has been formed, which includes the Minister of Water and Energy, the Secretary of Energy, and representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Finance Ministry.”
Tarar said the government aimed to resolve the issue in the next phase of talks with a “positive attitude” and to ensure a “respectful conclusion.”
The government established a three-member committee on Friday to negotiate with JI leaders after the party reported that hundreds of its members had been arrested by law enforcement agencies. The JI presented its list of demands to the government during a round of talks on Saturday night.
Tarar said efforts were being made to reduce the expenses of state-owned enterprises and fiscal space would be created with the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), allowing for relief to be passed on to the public.
“The government has provided a Rs50 billion subsidy for consumers using up to 200 units of electricity during the three-month summer period to help reduce their electricity bills and ease their financial burden,” he said.
Regarding the sit-in, the minister said Liaquat Bagh had been designated as the location and hoped that participants would stay inside the venue to avoid traffic snarl-ups and road closures.
Liaqat Baloch, head of the JI negotiation team, said the first round of talks was held in a “positive environment” and expressed the resolve to continue the sit-in until the party’s demands were met.
“The government committee has promised to discuss our demands in a technical committee and will get back to us tomorrow,” he said. “Our protest and sit-in will continue until we achieve positive results for the people.”
Baloch hoped the government would show seriousness in addressing the public’s demands.
“Otherwise, this force of people will compel them to take our demands seriously,” he added.
Speaking about the arrested JI workers, Baloch said the government committee had assured them of their release.
“Thirty-five of our members are still detained, but the government committee assured us they will be released soon as we have provided the list,” he said.
Separately, the power division refuted claims that the government was providing free electricity to parliamentarians and bureaucrats.
“There is no truth in providing free electricity to the members of parliament and bureaucrats,” it said, in response to some media reports.
No government institution was being provided free electricity either, the power division added.
Protests against inflation, new taxes continue as Pakistan government forms panel to discuss demands
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Protests against inflation, new taxes continue as Pakistan government forms panel to discuss demands
- Thousands have camped in Rawalpindi since Friday to demand government reduce power tariff, petroleum levy and prices of essential goods
- Information Minister Ataullah Tarar has urged protesters to limit themselves to the designated venue to avoid traffic jams and road closures
Pakistan orders four-day workweek, shuts schools to save fuel amid Middle East oil crisis
- The development comes as ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt oil supplies in Strait of Hormuz, push prices past $119 a barrel
- Islamabad bans government purchases, cuts fuel allocation for vehicles as well as workforce in public and private offices by 50 percent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced austerity measures, including a four-day work week, cuts in government expenditures and closure of schools, to offset the impact of rising global oil prices due to an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Global fuel supply lines have been disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies nearly a fourth of world oil consumption, after Tehran blocked it following United States-Israeli strikes on Iran and counterattacks against US interests in the Gulf region.
Oil prices surged more than 25 percent globally on Monday to $119.50 a barrel, the highest levels since mid-2022, as some major producers cut supplies and fears of prolonged shipping disruptions gripped the market due to the expanding US-Israeli war with Iran.
In his televised address on Sunday night, Sharif said global oil prices were expected to rise again in the coming days but vowed not to let the people bear their brunt, announcing austerity measures to lessen the impact of fuel price hikes.
“Fifty percent staff in public and private entities will work from home,” he announced, adding this would not be applicable to essential services. “Offices will remain open for four days a week. One-day additional off is being given to conserve oil, but it would not be applicable to banks.”
Sharif didn’t specify working days of the week and the government was likely to issue a notification in this regard.
He said a decrease of 50 percent was being made in fuel allocation for government vehicles immediately for the next two months, but they would not include ambulances and public buses.
“Cabinet members, advisers and special assistants will not draw salaries for the next two months, 25 percent salaries of parliamentarians are being deducted, two-day salaries of Grade 20 and above officers, or those who are paid Rs300,000 ($1,067) a month, are being deducted for public relief,” he said.
Similarly, there will be 20 percent reduction in public department expenses and a complete ban on the purchase of cars, furniture, air conditioners and other goods, according to the prime minister.
Foreign trips of ministers and other government officials will also be banned along with government dinners and iftar buffets, while teleconferences and online meetings will be given priority.
“All schools will be off for two weeks, starting from the end of this week, and all higher education institutions should immediately begin online classes,” he said.
Sharif’s comments were aired hours after Pakistani authorities said the country had “comfortable levels” of petroleum stocks and the supply chains were functioning smoothly, despite intensifying Middle East conflict.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said three oil shipments were due to reach Pakistan this week, state media reported.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Navy (PN) launched ‘Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr’ to safeguard national energy shipments, the Pakistani military said on Monday, amid disruptions to critical sea lanes due to the conflict.
The navy is conducting escort operations in close coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing. It is fully cognizant of the prevailing maritime situation and is actively monitoring and controlling the movement of merchant vessels to ensure their safe and secure transit.
“With approximately 90 percent of Pakistan’s trade conducted via sea, the operation aims to ensure that vital sea routes remain safe, secure, and uninterrupted,” the ISPR said on Monday. “Currently, PN ships are escorting 2 x Merchant Vessels, one of which is scheduled to arrive Karachi today.”
