ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has estimated that the government’s fuel relief scheme will cost between Rs25 billion and Rs30 billion per month, with the total expenditure potentially reaching around Rs300 billion if the programme continues for 10 months.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Federal Ministers Attaullah Tarar and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Malik said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the government to mobilise additional resources to sustain the relief programme.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the scheme on Sunday, announcing a Rs100-per-litre discount on petrol for motorcyclists, rickshaw and Qingqi drivers, as well as users of vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc.
Under the scheme, motorcycles, rickshaws and other two- and three-wheelers will be eligible for relief on up to 20 litres of petrol per month, while vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc will receive relief on up to 30 litres per month.
The scheme will be rolled out in Islamabad from the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, while implementation across the rest of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, will begin from the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
Registration Process
Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the programme would be implemented in two stages, with eligible citizens required to register before receiving the fuel relief.
Applicants must send their CNIC number from a SIM registered in their name to 9771, followed by their vehicle registration number, province or city and registration date.
She clarified that the province entered during registration must be the one where the vehicle or motorcycle is registered. Applicants will be notified if any required information is missing.
The registration process will only need to be completed once. After successful registration, beneficiaries can obtain a fuel token by sending “TOK” to 9771 when purchasing petrol.
Shaza Fatima urged citizens not to share their CNIC numbers or other personal information with anyone, stressing that the government would not request additional data or charge any fee for the scheme.
She added that any technical or procedural errors would be identified and corrected as the programme progresses.
No Increase in Public Transport Fares
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the relief package had been introduced specifically to support deserving citizens following the sharp increase in fuel prices.
He said a transparent mechanism had been adopted for the scheme and that the prime minister had directed all relevant ministries and departments to ensure its smooth implementation.
Tarar said government departments would remain available around the clock to facilitate beneficiaries. He also disclosed that the prime minister had directed that public transport fares should not be increased following the provision of fuel relief.
The minister said the government was also implementing various austerity measures, with some existing measures retained and others currently under review.
Government to Mobilise Additional Resources
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the prime minister did not want to place an additional financial burden on citizens.
He noted that Pakistan imports around 90% of its energy requirements, making the country vulnerable to fluctuations in international fuel prices.
According to Malik, the government and prime minister had previously arranged resources in advance for fuel subsidies, while a targeted relief package had also remained in place until June 30. He said the prime minister had once again directed officials to mobilise additional resources for the new programme.
Malik said diesel had been priced between Rs270 and Rs280 per litre before the war, adding that its price in Pakistan had still not doubled.
He stressed that most public transport vehicles operate on diesel, making it important to prevent an increase in transport fares. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has been tasked with consulting the provinces on the issue.
