Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says the government has absorbed pressure on petrol prices, while oil refineries will bear an estimated Rs15 billion monthly burden to protect consumers.
ISLAMABAD, November 2, 2026: More than 15 million people have benefited from the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, with the government disbursing Rs27 billion to provide subsidised petroleum products to eligible consumers, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference alongside Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the government to protect consumers from rising international oil prices.
He said the government had prevented a Rs15 per litre increase in petrol prices, shifting the additional financial burden to local oil refineries rather than passing it on to consumers.
According to Tarar, oil refineries would bear an estimated additional burden of Rs15 billion per month under the arrangement.
He said developments in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb had created pressure on international economies and energy markets, affecting Pakistan as well. However, the prime minister had instructed relevant authorities to ensure that the impact of the evolving international situation was not transferred to the public.
Rs27 billion disbursed under fuel relief scheme
Describing the initiative as a major public welfare measure, Tarar said the Fuel Relief Scheme offered subsidised petrol to motorcycles, Qingqi rickshaws and vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc.
He said more than 15 million registrations had been completed under the programme, while approximately Rs27 billion had been disbursed as financial relief.
Payments were also being made to petrol pumps for supplying fuel at subsidised rates, he added.
The minister said the scheme had been implemented through coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Petroleum, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
He added that the initiative had been launched nationwide and would continue to facilitate eligible consumers.
Government denies shortage of essential commodities
Responding to questions, Tarar said Pakistan was not facing a shortage of essential commodities, adding that cargo arrivals and supply chains had remained operational despite challenging international circumstances.
He urged citizens to avoid speculation and refrain from believing unverified reports and rumours.
Tarar highlights economic and tax reforms
The information minister also highlighted the government’s economic stabilisation measures and structural reforms, particularly within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
He said technology-based monitoring of manufacturing processes had helped generate an additional Rs60 billion in tax revenue from the sugar industry alone.
Similar monitoring and traceability systems had been introduced in the cement, tobacco and beverages sectors to improve revenue collection and transparency.
Tarar said reforms had also been undertaken in the ports and shipping sectors, including improvements in fee appraisal systems.
He maintained that the government was pursuing structural reforms to strengthen economic stability and place Pakistan on a path towards sustainable development.
Political criticism and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa development
During the press conference, Tarar criticised the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and questioned its development record in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Referring to his recent visit to Kohat, he said major infrastructure projects, including the motorway and Kohat Tunnel, had been completed during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
He questioned the lack of subsequent projects involving hospitals, universities, bridges, roads and specialised healthcare facilities, including kidney and liver transplant centres.
He also said young people could have benefited from laptop distribution programmes to support their education and professional development.
Tarar alleged that the previous government had failed to deliver on its economic promises and had encouraged measures that could undermine economic stability.
He further criticised the alleged attempt to influence Pakistan’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme through letters and referred to calls for civil disobedience and withholding electricity bill payments.
The minister also raised concerns about non-customs-paid vehicles operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, arguing that proper vehicle registration could generate revenue for public welfare.
Concluding his remarks, Tarar said the government was committed to economic reforms, improved revenue collection and protecting citizens from external economic pressures.