JI Announces Nationwide Sit-Ins Against Petrol Levy Hikes

Jamaat-e-Islami is staging a fresh round of sit-ins across Pakistan on Sunday against rising petroleum prices and the petroleum levy, turning fuel costs into the latest flashpoint in national politics. The demonstrations are being held in major provincial centres including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, with party workers mobilised for protest activity later in the day.

According to the reported schedule, the protests are set to begin at 3:30pm, while a larger phase of sit-ins is planned outside Chief Ministers’ Houses at 6pm. In Lahore, Jamaat-e-Islami workers have been directed to gather at Masjid-e-Shuhada before moving toward the announced protest venue.

The party’s latest action follows an earlier countrywide campaign in which demonstrations were held at more than 500 locations against repeated increases in fuel prices and the petroleum levy. Those sit-ins were later delayed because of Independence Day events, after which the party fixed August 16 for renewed demonstrations.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s position is that higher fuel costs and levy collections have placed an unsustainable burden on households, transporters and small businesses. The party has framed the campaign as a public-pressure movement aimed at forcing relief for consumers, while provincial authorities have taken precautionary measures around key administrative areas to prevent disruption.

The protests come as the petroleum levy remains one of the most closely watched revenue tools in Pakistan’s fiscal policy. Separate finance ministry data cited in the report showed that Pakistan collected Rs1.567 trillion in petroleum levy during fiscal year 2025-26, exceeding the budgeted target of Rs1.468 trillion by Rs99 billion.

The same figures showed that Pakistan’s total tax and non-tax revenue reached Rs19.773 trillion in the last fiscal year, while the primary balance posted a surplus of Rs3.634 trillion. The surplus was linked to controlled expenditure and stronger petroleum levy collection, highlighting how fuel-related revenue has become important for fiscal management.

At the same time, the country recorded a budget deficit of Rs4.763 trillion in FY2025-26. Government borrowing stood at Rs3.313 trillion, including Rs2.135 trillion from domestic sources and Rs1.113 trillion in net external financing, showing the continued pressure on public finances despite improved revenue collection.

Debt servicing remained one of the largest burdens on the national budget, with Rs6.947 trillion spent on interest payments. Of that amount, Rs6.040 trillion went toward domestic debt and Rs917 billion toward external debt, leaving limited room for broad-based relief without fresh fiscal adjustments.

The sit-ins could test both the government’s ability to manage street pressure and Jamaat-e-Islami’s capacity to turn economic frustration into sustained political mobilisation. The next few hours will be important as authorities monitor protest routes, party workers gather in major cities and citizens watch whether the campaign leads to any formal response on fuel prices or the petroleum levy.