Sindh Assembly unanimously passes resolution seeking reduction in petroleum prices

Sharjeel Inam Memon asks the federal government to abolish the petroleum levy

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the federal government to reduce petroleum prices and abolish the petroleum levy, amid growing concern over the burden of fuel costs on consumers.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed lawmaker Mohammad Owais moved the resolution, which received support from the provincial government and opposition members.

Speaking during the assembly debate, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said, “We fully support this resolution and demand that the federal government abolish the petroleum levy.”

Memon said the rising prices of petroleum products had created serious difficulties for the public. He said the federal government was collecting more than Rs100 per litre in petroleum levy and urged it to withdraw the levy to provide relief to consumers.

Read: Sindh PA passes local govt bill amid opposition uproar

The minister also criticised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a coalition partner of the federal government, for what he described as silence over the rising cost of petroleum products.

“MQM-P is enjoying the perks of being in the government but refuses to speak to their coalition partner on the rising cost of petroleum products,” he lamented, urging the party's federal representatives to raise the issue with the government.

“MQM-P should not ignore the people's problems in the pursuit of power.”

سینئر صوبائی وزیر شرجیل انعام میمن نے سندھ اسمبلی میں خطاب کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ وفاقی حکومت موجودہ حالات میں عوام پر مزید مہنگائی کا بوجھ نہ ڈالے۔ آج ہر چیز مہنگی ہو رہی ہے، پٹرولیم مصنوعات کی مہنگائی کے اثرات ہر شعبے پر پڑ رہے ہیں۔

انہوں نے کہا کہ موجودہ حالات میں پٹرولیم لیوی… pic.twitter.com/Gjdosmtv6w

— Sindh Information Department (@sindhinfodepart) September 15, 2026

He asked the opposition party to clarify its stance on rising fuel costs.

Referring to the Pakistan Peoples Party's political stance on petroleum prices, Memon said the PPP had once withdrawn from a government over a nominal increase in petrol prices.

“In 1988, PPP left the coalition when the government increased petrol prices by Re1,” he said, adding, “Today, the increase has reached up to Rs150.”

He stressed that all political parties, including MQM-P, should raise their voice against high petroleum prices because the issue directly affects the public.

He asked the federal government to “come to its senses” and take measures to reduce the burden of fuel prices on the people.

JI stages sit-ins, pushes govt to abolish petroleum levy

The petroleum levy has been a subject of considerable debate in recent weeks ever since the Jamaat-e-Islami announced nationwide protests and sit-ins on July 10 against the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices.

Read More: JI announces nationwide protests on July 10 against petroleum levy, rising fuel prices and inflation

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman demanded the immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, calling it a "jagga tax", and claimed that taxes of around Rs130 were included in the price of petroleum products, with the government directly collecting more than Rs105. Rehman highlighted that the levy disproportionately affected low-income and middle-class citizens and claimed that the government had collected more than Rs4 trillion through the levy.

Also Read: JI submits six proposals to govt for abolishing petroleum levy

The government and JI have held two rounds of talks in Islamabad over the petroleum levy, but neither produced a final agreement. The JI had been demanding a reduction or abolition of the levy, while the government had sought more time to consider different proposals. Despite continuing negotiations, the JI had maintained its protest programme. It announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 20 and said its protest campaign would continue until consumers were provided relief.