ISLAMABAD: The federal government will roll out the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme across Pakistan from 11:59 p.m. on September 16, providing subsidised petrol to eligible users of motorcycles, three-wheelers and vehicles up to 800cc.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the 9th meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy on Wednesday, where arrangements for the nationwide launch were reviewed and finalised. The scheme will also cover eligible loaders and pick-ups, while the cost of the relief will be borne entirely by the federal government.
Registration Through SMS 9771
Registration for the scheme is already open nationwide through SMS to 9771. Eligible applicants are required to provide their CNIC number, vehicle number plate, province of registration and vehicle registration date.
Once registered, beneficiaries can obtain a fuel relief token by sending “TOK” to 9771, which can then be presented at participating petrol stations to avail the subsidised fuel.
Under the approved mechanism, two- and three-wheelers are eligible for relief equivalent to Rs100 per litre on up to 20 litres of petrol per month, while vehicles up to 800cc can receive the same relief on up to 30 litres per month. The scheme is restricted to non-commercial users, with relief limited to one vehicle per user or owner.
Fuel Stations to Receive Payments Within 24 Hours
Dar directed authorities to ensure that payments to fuel stations are settled within 24 hours through the State Bank of Pakistan, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted participation of petrol stations in the relief programme.
He also instructed provincial governments to strengthen district-level outreach and ensure that eligible citizens receive timely guidance regarding registration and redemption of fuel tokens.
The Deputy Prime Minister further called for elected representatives and Prime Minister’s Youth Programme volunteers to assist with public awareness and registration.
Rs75 Billion Approved for Relief Scheme
The Economic Coordination Committee has approved Rs75 billion for the fuel relief programme, which was introduced following a sharp increase in petroleum prices amid international market pressures.
The government has set the relief at Rs100 per litre, with the Petroleum Ministry previously stating that the programme could require around Rs25 billion per month.
The nationwide rollout follows the Islamabad pilot, where the scheme was initially launched earlier this week. The government has directed authorities to keep the registration process simple and expand public awareness to facilitate eligible consumers across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Energy and Consumer Relief
The fuel relief scheme comes as the government has raised petrol prices by Rs4.10 per litre and high-speed diesel prices by Rs6.41 per litre, effective September 16, marking the seventh consecutive increase in petroleum prices.
The latest measures are intended to cushion lower-income and small-vehicle users from the impact of higher transport and fuel costs while maintaining a digitally managed mechanism for distributing the subsidy.
Story by Naveed Siddiqui
