KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed an opposition resolution calling on the federal government to abolish the petroleum levy, citing rising fuel prices and their impact on inflation and the public.
The resolution was moved by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) lawmaker Muhammad Farooq amid the party’s nationwide protests against rising petroleum prices.
Responding to the resolution, Sindh Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the federal government and the provincial assembly could not abolish the levy itself.
The resolution was subsequently put to a vote and unanimously adopted by the house, urging the federal government to immediately withdraw the petroleum levy and provide relief to consumers.
Call for Relief from Fuel Taxes
According to the resolution, the actual price of petrol, including customs duty, currently stands at Rs238.70 per litre. However, consumers are also charged Rs80 per litre as petroleum levy, Rs5 as climate levy and Rs25.30 as the margin of oil marketing companies (OMCs).
The resolution argued that these additional charges had increased the prices of petrol and diesel and contributed to higher inflation, placing a significant burden on the population.
The house therefore demanded that the federal government end the petroleum levy and other related duties to provide immediate relief to consumers.
MQM-P Protests Over ‘Sindhudesh’
Earlier, proceedings of the Sindh Assembly were disrupted when opposition lawmakers belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) staged a noisy protest against slogans and activities linked to the so-called “Sindhudesh” cause.
The protest prevented Question Hour from proceeding normally during the Private Members’ Day session.
The session, chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Shah, was disrupted shortly after MQM-P Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Taha Ahmed attempted to raise the issue during Question Hour.
MQM-P lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker’s rostrum and chanted slogans including “Sindhu Desh na manzoor” and “Speaker gardi na manzoor”.
Speaker Awais Shah repeatedly called on the protesting members to return to their seats and allow the proceedings to continue.
MQM-P Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi also accused treasury members of recording and sharing videos of assembly proceedings on social media, alleging that some ministers were involved in the practice.
“We consider you impartial,” Khurshidi told the speaker, referring to an earlier incident involving an opposition member who had been reprimanded for recording video inside the assembly.
The speaker responded by asking the opposition to provide a list of those allegedly involved.
Later, speaking to reporters at the assembly’s Media Corner, Khurshidi accused the speaker and assembly secretariat of adopting a partisan approach.
He argued that Private Members’ Day constitutionally belonged to the opposition and alleged that the speaker’s position had changed following criticism from the chief minister.
Christian Family Laws Bill Introduced
During the session, Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed introduced the Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 in the Sindh Assembly.
Naveed urged lawmakers, particularly opposition members, to support the legislation and described its introduction as a significant development after decades without such legislation being presented before the assembly.
The bill was subsequently referred to the relevant standing committee for further consideration.
Story by Tahir Siddiqui
