Islamabad: The government and Jamaat-e-Islami have agreed to establish a committee aimed at expanding the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme. The decision was announced by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal during a news conference with Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah Khan, following a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Jamaat-e-Islami’s chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.

According to Radio Pakistan, the committee will consist of six members, with three representatives each from the government and Jamaat-e-Islami. The government will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan. The committee’s mandate includes considering the expansion of the petroleum relief scheme to offer further assistance to the public amid global oil price increases.

The committee will also evaluate proposals for the gradual withdrawal of the petroleum levy in the next budget, taking into account the country’s economic condition and the financial burden on citizens. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the existing scheme’s benefits to over ten million people and underlined the need for political stability and national unity to address economic challenges.

Additionally, Ahsan Iqbal noted that the ongoing geopolitical conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, along with regional tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, has escalated the global energy crisis. This crisis has resulted in increased prices for oil and diesel, higher insurance premiums, transportation costs, and disruptions in gas supplies.