Payments to petrol pumps under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s petrol relief scheme have begun.The association said Rs12.2 million had been paid to 868 petrol pumps against claims for September 16. It said the full amount claimed by the 868 petrol stations had been paid.Under the Prime Minister’s relief scheme, registered citizens are being provided petrol at a discount of Rs100 per litre. The digital system introduced for the scheme has also been activated, allowing registered beneficiaries to avail the relief at petrol stations across the country. Real-time monitoring of the provision of subsidised petrol to registered citizens is also under way.

According to Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, around one million people have so far registered for the petrol relief scheme.The new rates come as the government has announced a special relief scheme to reduce the impact of rising oil prices on the public amid recent tensions in the Middle East and the resultant increase in global oil prices.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a relief of Rs100 per litre will be provided on petrol for users of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc under the special relief scheme.

Motorcycle, rickshaw and Qingqi users, as well as other two- and three-wheeler users, will receive a relief of Rs100 per litre on up to 20 litres of petrol per month.Similarly, owners of small cars up to 800cc will receive a relief of Rs100 per litre on up to 30 litres of petrol per month. The prime minister said the scheme will be implemented in Islamabad Capital Territory on the night between Monday and Tuesday. It will then be extended to the rest of the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, on the night between Wednesday and Thursday.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)