Govt to spend Rs25bn a month on fuel relief scheme: petroleum minister

Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on Monday that the government will allocate Rs25 billion each month to support the fuel relief scheme. The minister made these remarks while addressing journalists in Islamabad regarding the newly launched petrol relief scheme under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership. Accompanying the minister were Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja elaborated on the scheme, stating that a simplified registration process with minimal checks has been implemented to ensure maximum beneficiaries receive the assistance. The scheme targets users of two- and three-wheelers, as well as vehicles with engine capacities up to 800cc. Under the program, eligible recipients will receive a fuel subsidy of Rs100 per liter.

Beneficiaries can register from home by sending their CNIC number, vehicle plate number, the first letter of their province, and the vehicle's registration date via a text message to 9771. Upon visiting a petrol station, registered beneficiaries will need to provide a token (TOK) obtained from sending TOK to 9771 to receive the subsidized fuel.

Motorcycle users will be able to receive the fuel subsidy once a week, while car users can receive it once every 10 days. The token will allow for the purchase of 10 liters of petrol for cars and 5 liters for motorcycles. The information minister emphasized that the fuel relief scheme is designed to alleviate the burden of deserving individuals during the current challenging circumstances. He stated that all available means will be employed to ensure greater awareness about the scheme.