PM greenlights nationwide expansion of fuel subsidy amid Gulf tensions, rising oil prices

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the government-backed fuel subsidy aimed at providing relief to low-income and middle-class households amid a drastic escalation in tensions in the Middle East that have compounded an increase in fuel prices.

A day earlier, Saudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Makkah before ​it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city. Houthis denied the attack; however, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the group had attacked Aramco facilities in Yanbu, as well as an airbase in Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia. 

To provide some relief to the populace amid the climbing fuel prices, fuel subsidies are being provided under the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme to owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc.

A statement issued today by the PM Office said the premier held a review meeting for the scheme and directed the establishment of facilitation desks at petrol stations, comprising administrative officials, volunteers and petrol pump staff to assist eligible citizens in obtaining the subsidy.

He instructed the authorities to ensure that people were provided guidance throughout the registration process and other required procedures, and directed relevant departments to “step up public awareness” about the scheme.

Read: Fuel relief scheme to go nationwide at midnight tomorrow

The meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz was informed that following the successful launch of the pilot project in Islamabad, the scheme had now been rolled out across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the statement issued by the PM Office, the registration process has been kept simple and requires only four pieces of information: the applicant’s CNIC number, vehicle number plate, province of registration and vehicle registration date.

The PM Office said details of the scheme were available on the Urdu-language website, www.pmfuelrelief.pk. It said the number of successful registrations was gradually increasing.

The meeting was also informed that provincial governments were cooperating with the federal government in implementing the scheme nationwide.