Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a fuel subsidy scheme for motorcycles, rickshaws, and small vehicles.
- SMS registration for the scheme will be free of charge.
- The scheme will be launched in Islamabad on September 15 and will be available nationwide from September 16-17.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched a fuel subsidy scheme aimed at providing relief to low-income and middle-class individuals owning motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles up to 800cc. The scheme is part of the PM Special Relief Scheme and is designed to alleviate the financial burden caused by rising petrol prices, particularly in the context of the ongoing situation in the Gulf.
The prime minister ordered that the SMS required for registration be made free of charge, ensuring that the process is accessible to all eligible applicants. The scheme will be officially launched in Islamabad on the early hours of Tuesday, September 15, and will be available to eligible motorists across the country, including those in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, from the night of September 16-17.
To register for the scheme, applicants are required to provide only four pieces of information: their CNIC number, vehicle number plate, province of registration, and vehicle registration date. Full details of the scheme are available on the Urdu-language website www.pmfuelrelief.pk.
The prime minister directed the Islamabad administration, including the chief commissioner and inspector general, to remain present in the field to guide citizens through the registration process. He also ordered the mobilisation of public representatives and volunteers across the country to assist people with registration and other formalities.
An extensive awareness campaign will be launched through print, electronic, digital, and social media to ensure that the scheme reaches the maximum number of deserving citizens. The campaign aims to inform and educate the public about the benefits and registration process of the fuel subsidy scheme.
According to officials, more than 600,000 SMS messages had been received in the Islamabad region by Monday afternoon, with 42,933 applicants successfully registered for the scheme. The prime minister and his team are committed to ensuring that the scheme is implemented smoothly and effectively, providing much-needed relief to those in need.
The meeting to review the progress of the PM Special Relief Scheme was attended by key ministers and officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kayani, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa, and senior officials of relevant institutions.
