ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's government and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) religio-political party on Thursday agreed to hold talks to reduce petroleum levy, amid continuing protests over petroleum price hike in the country.

Pakistan introduced petroleum levy under a commitment with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of its ongoing loan programs. Taxes on petrol currently stand at Rs114 per liter, while taxes and duties on diesel remain at Rs100 per liter, figures that include a Rs80 per liter levy on petrol and Rs77.28 per liter levy on diesel. An additional Rs5 per liter ‘climate support charge’ is also applied to both fuels.

Since mid-August, the JI has led protests across the country and demanded the government reduce levy on petroleum products, following substantial hikes in the prices of petrol and diesel resulting from energy supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to an ongoing United States-Iran conflict.

A government team, comprising Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Minister of Specialized Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, on Thursday held talks with JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman and others in Lahore about the party's ongoing protest movement.

"We have advised them that this is an issue that all of us are affected by and we all want the people to get relief. The government has formed a team and we have also requested Jamaat-e-Islami to form a team of experts so that we can work together," Iqbal said at a joint press conference in Lahore.

"If they have any suggestions on how we can reduce the weight of the petroleum levy, the government will be happy to take any steps in light of those suggestions."

Iqbal said they were trying to provide as much relief to people as possible.

"We will also put forward our position as a government. Because at the end of the day, what is most important for all of us is the benefit of Pakistan," he said.

JI chief Rehman said that petroleum price hikes have led to increase in prices of all commodities, including bread, flour and sugar.

"We never make unlawful demands. We also understand the situation of the country," he said. "Our request is that you should end the levy, reduce the price of petrol."

The presser came amid JI’s nationwide strike against petroleum levy and inflation, which received a mixed response. Shops and businesses remained partially closed in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, while markets largely remained open in Punjab and Balochistan.

The religio-political party has also been holding sit-ins in provincial capitals and other cities since Aug. 16 as part of its protest movement.

Rehman said the protests would continue alongside talks with the government.