The federal government has relaxed a condition of the Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme for fuel, allowing beneficiaries to purchase less than five litres of petrol in a single transaction. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy to review the implementation of the scheme and consider public feedback received during the first 48 hours of its nationwide rollout. Taking citizens’ feedback into account, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved two measures for motorcycles, three-wheelers and rickshaws.

The government has removed the requirement to purchase a minimum of five litres in a single transaction. Beneficiaries will now receive a weekly token worth Rs500, which can be redeemed for fuel in any quantity, enabling those purchasing smaller amounts to benefit from the scheme. The eligibility age limit for two-wheelers and three-wheelers has also been increased from 15 to 20 years. For four-wheelers with engine capacity of up to 800cc, there is no change in the existing arrangement. Beneficiaries will receive one 10-litre token every 10 days, equivalent to three tokens per month.

The full value of the Rs500 token will be passed on to consumers, and fuel stations will not be allowed to apply any deduction or service charge.The committee also reviewed progress on registration, token redemption and payment settlements with fuel stations. Dar directed the State Bank of Pakistan to provide payment-status reports twice daily, at 11am and 7pm, to ensure rejected transactions are identified along with the reasons and resolved without delay. He also directed authorities to establish alternative arrangements for fuel stations in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and remote rural areas.

Dar emphasised that the scheme aims to provide relief to vulnerable citizens and that no eligible beneficiary should be deprived of the facility because of their geographical location. The meeting was attended by the ministers for petroleum, economic affairs, information and broadcasting, and IT and telecommunications; Minister of State for Finance and Revenue; SAPM Tariq Bajwa; Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan; Chairman OGRA; Secretary Petroleum; additional chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan; and senior officials from AJK, GB, Islamabad Capital Territory and relevant federal and provincial departments.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)