KARACHI: The online fuel subsidy portal for motorcyclists in Sindh was temporarily shut down following repeated hacking attempts, Sindh Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla confirmed on Tuesday.
The portal, launched a day earlier by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, enables registered motorcyclists to receive a monthly fuel subsidy of Rs2,000 by submitting their CNIC and bank account details online. However, thousands of users reported difficulties accessing the system, citing prolonged downtime and registration issues.
Addressing a press conference, the minister stated that the disruption was caused by cyberattacks targeting the platform. He added that the system has since been secured and restored for public use.
Providing an update on progress, he revealed that around 15,000 motorcycles have been registered so far, with 3,000 applicants successfully completing the subsidy process. Payments of Rs2,000 each have already been transferred to 1,500 beneficiaries through their Sindh Bank accounts.
Meanwhile, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the initiative has a wide outreach potential, noting that approximately 6.7 million motorcycles are registered across the province, whose owners are eligible to receive the monthly subsidy.
The Peoples Motorcycle Fuel Subsidy Programme aims to provide targeted financial relief to commuters amid rising fuel prices, while authorities work to ensure the system remains secure and accessible.
Story by Tahir Siddiqui
