Subsidy for small vehicles amid sky-high fuel prices
• Rs100 per litre discount offered on petrol under PM’s scheme
• Monthly limit of 20 litres set for two- and three-wheelers
• 800cc cars eligible for subsidised 30 litres/month
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a special relief scheme to ease burden on the public amid rising oil prices due to tensions in the Middle East.
According to the PM Office, the prime minister has taken immediate notice of the growing burden on the public due to rising global oil prices amid recent tensions in the Middle East and announced a special relief scheme.
“The government is fully aware of the burden being placed on the people due to the increase in oil prices,” the prime minister was quoted as saying in an official press release.
“We will not leave the people alone in this difficult time,” he added.
Renewed hostilities in the Middle East, which have resulted in disruption of major oil supply routes, have caused fuel prices to rise. In addition to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war, trade via Bab al-Mandab — which has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports in recent months — is also facing a rising threat from Houthi rebels.
After the latest hike on Friday, the price of petrol reached Rs375.82 per litre while high-speed diesel (HSD) cost Rs403.32 per litre.
Earlier in April, the government had introduced a mechanism to provide subsidised petrol through a mobile application, offering relief to citizens amid soaring fuel prices. The initiative, titled the ‘Motorcycle Petrol Subsidy Relief Package 2026’, aimed to support low-income individuals by reducing their monthly fuel expenses.
On Sunday, the prime minister said a special scheme was being launched to ease the impact of higher fuel prices on people using motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqis, three-wheelers and small cars.
Under the scheme, owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqis, three-wheelers and vehicles with engines of up to 800cc will receive a Rs100 per litre relief on petrol.
Motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqis, as well as other two- and three-wheeler users, are eligible for relief on 20 litres of petrol per month, the prime minister said.
Owners of small cars with engines up to 800cc will receive the Rs100 per litre relief on 30 litres of petrol every month, he added.
The scheme will be implemented in Islamabad from the night between Monday and Tuesday, while it will be extended across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, from the night between Wednesday and Thursday, the prime minister said.
The prime minister thanked the provinces for their cooperation in providing information on motorcycles, rickshaws and small vehicles to facilitate registration under the scheme.
Registration for the special relief scheme has opened from Sunday.
How to get subsidised fuel
According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication developed the system in collaboration with provincial departments, Nadra and telecom operators.
The ministry said vehicle verification had been fully automated in coordination with the provincial transport and excise departments.
For registration, citizens will have to send an SMS from a SIM registered in their own name containing their CNIC number without dashes, vehicle number without spaces or dashes, provincial code and vehicle registration date.
A confirmation message will be sent after successful registration.
Registered citizens will then have to send TOK to 9771 to obtain a fuel token before visiting a petrol station.
The token will be presented at the petrol station and verified before the subsidised petrol is provided.
The subsidised petrol facility will begin in Islamabad on the night between Monday and Tuesday. It will become available at petrol stations in the rest of the country from the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
The IT ministry said the scheme was being implemented on the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The scheme aims to provide relief to the public, particularly the working class, and reduce the impact of rising petrol prices on household finances.
With input from APP
Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2026
