PM Shehbaz announces Rs100 per litre fuel relief for bikes, rickshaws, small cars

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced a special fuel relief scheme to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on motorcycle, rickshaw, Qingqi and small-car users amid a surge in global oil prices following tensions in the Middle East, the PM Office said.

The development comes a couple of days after the government further increased the price of petrol by Rs3.05 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs5.37 per litre, effective from Friday through Monday, marking the fourth consecutive hike in petroleum prices.

Under the fresh scheme, users of motorcycles, rickshaws and other two- and three-wheelers will receive relief of Rs100 per litre on up to 20 litres of petrol per month. Owners of vehicles with engines of up to 800cc will be eligible for the same Rs100-per-litre relief on up to 30 litres per month.

The scheme will take effect in Islamabad from the night between Monday and Tuesday, while its implementation will begin across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, from the night between Wednesday and Thursday. Registration for the scheme has opened from Sunday, with details of the registration process to be communicated through an awareness campaign.

Shehbaz said the government fully recognised the burden being placed on the public by higher oil prices and would not leave people alone in the difficult situation. He thanked the provinces for their cooperation in providing information on motorcycles, rickshaws and small vehicles to facilitate registration under the relief scheme.

It is pertinent to mention that international oil prices fell on Friday but remained on course for a weekly gain of more than 8%, while US diesel prices hit a record high as attacks along Middle East shipping routes stoked concerns about prolonged supply disruptions.

Brent crude futures settled at USD104.61 a barrel, down USD3.02, or 2.81%.

Read More: Punjab makes public transport free; Sindh announces Rs2,000 subsidy for bikers

The federal government had earlier this year announced a relief for April, after PM Shehbaz directed provincial governments to provide all necessary facilities to motorcycle and rickshaw owners to register their vehicles in their own names, paving the way for a specialised Fuel Support Programme designed to shield low-income commuters from global oil price volatility.

“This initiative would help digitise data of motorcycles and rickshaws across the country and enable their owners to benefit from government relief measures in the future,” PM Shehbaz had said, chairing a high-level review meeting in Islamabad.

He had directed the authorities to approach the chief secretaries of all four provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan in this regard.

In a coordinated effort to shield the public from a deepening global economic crisis, the governments of Punjab and Sindh on April 3 announced relief packages of massive fuel subsidies and free public transport initiatives.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had unveiled historic measures including a total waiver of fares for all major urban transit systems, such as the Orange Line and Metro Bus, alongside a substantial Rs100 per litre diesel subsidy for the agricultural sector.

Mirroring the federal government’s austerity and relief roadmap, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had also mapped out a dedicated provincial programme, confirming a direct monthly cash subsidy of Rs2,000 for millions of registered motorcyclists across Sindh to offset rising petroleum costs.

During a press conference, Chief Minister Murad had confirmed that every registered motorcycle owner in Sindh will receive a monthly subsidy of Rs2,000. To facilitate this, the Excise Department had developed a dedicated mobile application where citizens could enter their CNIC details to claim the amount.