People wait to refuel their motorcycles at a petrol station following the rollout of a fuel relief scheme, which provides a fuel subsidy for eligible motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles with engines of up to 800cc, in Karachi, Pakistan, September 17, 2026. REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The government on Saturday moved to widen and streamline Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s fuel relief scheme, directing that every operational fuel station be brought onto the system while permanently closed and diesel-only outlets are removed, as the premier further eased the token structure to facilitate beneficiaries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar issued the directions while chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy, while Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that the five-litre petrol limit linked to a single token had been abolished and registration messages would be made completely free.
“Every fuel station which is open and operating” should be brought onto the system, while stations found permanently closed or dealing exclusively in diesel should be identified and removed from the list, the statement quoted Dar as saying.
The committee was informed that an overwhelming majority of fuel stations across the country were now operational on the system and that citizens were redeeming fuel tokens.
Registration is continuing nationwide via SMS to 9771.
The committee also approved the redemption of fuel tokens through SMS at stations in areas without internet connectivity. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the provinces were asked to furnish lists of such stations so that they could be brought onto the scheme without delay.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) informed the committee that all payment claims received over the past three days had been settled in full, with claims received each day processed on the same day.
Dar appreciated the efforts of the provincial administrations and the cooperation extended by the SBP, stressing that “the relief must continue to reach the intended beneficiaries without hindrance”.
Separately, Shaza Fatima said Prime Minister Shehbaz had announced that registration messages for eligible individuals would be completely free and that the five-litre petrol limit on a single token had been abolished.
She said motorcyclists, as well as owners of Qingqis and rickshaws who purchased less than five litres of petrol, would receive Rs500 in relief within a week.
The Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing, in a press release issued on Saturday, said: “Upon the prime minister’s instructions, motorcyclists, as well as owners of Qingqis and rickshaws who purchase less than five litres of petrol, will also be entitled to a discount of Rs 500 against a single token within a week.”
One token will be issued every week, with a total of four tokens to be issued in a month.
Users of vehicles up to 800cc will continue to receive a discount of Rs100 per litre on 10 litres of petrol every 10 days, according to the earlier decision. Accordingly, three tokens for 10 litres of petrol will be issued each month.
The Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme has been successfully rolled out across Pakistan, with petrol being provided at a subsidised rate of Rs100 per litre under the scheme.
Prime Minister Shehbaz is personally monitoring every aspect of the relief scheme and has directed that its outreach be further expanded.
He has also instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that the petrol subsidy is provided to beneficiaries with dignity, convenience and without any hurdles.
In light of feedback received from across the country, the prime minister took another decision to further facilitate beneficiaries of the scheme.
Shaza Fatima said 91.6% of registrations under the scheme were for two- and three-wheelers, while vehicles of up to 800cc accounted for 8.4% of registrations.
She said 1,493,848 citizens had so far been issued fuel tokens under the scheme, while 655,067 citizens had already received fuel.
The federal minister appealed to the public not to share their personal information with anyone to protect themselves from fraud.
The prime minister had earlier directed that 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws be included in the fuel relief scheme, and implementation of the decision had taken place.
All motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws registered on or after January 1, 2006, are now eligible for registration under the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme.
