Attaullah Tarar says eligible citizens can register using a basic mobile phone as more than 2.2 million people sign up for the targeted fuel relief scheme.

ISLAMABAD: Vehicle ownership is not a prerequisite for benefiting from the Prime Minister’s Special Fuel Scheme, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday, urging eligible citizens to register and benefit from the targeted relief programme.

Addressing a press conference, Tarar said more than 2.2 million people had registered for the scheme so far, describing its nationwide implementation as a significant success that also covers Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

He said 92 per cent of registered beneficiaries use motorcycles, Qingqis and rickshaws, highlighting the scheme’s focus on people most affected by higher fuel costs.

Around 1.9 million tokens have been issued under the targeted subsidy, including approximately 1.8 million tokens for motorcycle, rickshaw and Qingqi users. Around 152,000 tokens have been issued to owners or users of 800cc cars, according to the minister.

Fuel price surge prompts targeted relief

Tarar said the international increase in petrol and diesel prices amid geopolitical tensions had affected countries around the world, with Pakistan also facing the impact.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had brought relevant ministries, departments and institutions together and issued timely instructions to develop a relief package specifically targeting the common and low-income population.

According to Tarar, the scheme was developed following the prime minister’s planning and consultations with stakeholders, alongside close monitoring of its implementation.

The Ministry of Information Technology developed a digital dashboard on the prime minister’s instructions, supported by a backend mechanism capable of generating fuel subsidy tokens for eligible applicants.

Tarar said the nationwide implementation reflected the government’s emphasis on using technology to deliver targeted public relief.

Registration rules relaxed

The minister said public and media feedback had resulted in several changes to the scheme.

On the prime minister’s instructions, eligibility was expanded to cover motorcycles, Qingqis and rickshaws registered after 2006. SMS registration charges were also waived following public demand.

The government further relaxed the earlier restriction that limited subsidised fuel for two- and three-wheelers to five litres per token per week.

“Every eligible person nationwide can now benefit from the scheme,” Tarar said.

He thanked provincial governments, as well as the administrations of AJK and GB, for their cooperation in implementing the programme.

How much fuel subsidy beneficiaries can receive

Under the current arrangement, motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users can obtain one token per week and four tokens per month, receiving Rs500 in relief per token.

Users of 800cc cars can receive a subsidy of Rs100 per litre on 10 litres of petrol every 10 days, equivalent to 30 litres per month through three tokens.

Tarar said the relief effectively brings petrol costs for beneficiaries closer to the levels prevailing before the recent international conflict.

Basic mobile phone enough for registration

Tarar stressed that beneficiaries do not need a smartphone to register for the scheme.

Registration can be completed through a basic mobile phone using a simple SMS code, making the programme accessible to people without smartphones or internet access.

He also clarified that vehicle ownership is not a condition for registration.

“A person only needs to know the vehicle’s registration date and number to register,” Tarar said.

The minister added that approximately 500,000 people registered in a single day shortly before the press conference, indicating a strong public response to the initiative.

Fuel subsidy monitored at petrol stations

According to Tarar, the scheme is available at petrol stations operated by all oil marketing companies across Pakistan.

Banners carrying registration information have been installed at fuel stations, while local administrations are monitoring implementation in their respective areas.

Through the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), petrol stations are also being issued instructions regarding the scheme.

A dedicated war room at the Ministry of IT is operating around the clock to monitor the programme and provide real-time information, including the number of subsidy tokens redeemed at individual petrol stations each day.

Tarar said the monitoring mechanism would also enable authorities to identify petrol stations where no subsidy redemptions were being recorded.

He warned that appropriate action would be taken after examining cases where no redemptions were taking place.

Government opts for targeted rather than blanket subsidy

Responding to calls for a blanket fuel subsidy, Tarar said the government had deliberately designed the programme to target deserving citizens rather than provide benefits to owners or users of larger vehicles.

He acknowledged that designing and implementing the initiative had been a major challenge but maintained that the programme was being successfully rolled out across the country.

The minister also thanked print, electronic and social media, as well as broadcasting associations, for helping raise awareness about registration and eligibility requirements.

He described the initiative as an unprecedented effort that could potentially provide a model for targeted public assistance.

Tarar also referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s previous initiatives, saying that during his association with the premier he had witnessed several unconventional approaches to public problems, including the model used during efforts to contain dengue outbreaks.

Government position on Islamabad protests

Responding to another question, Tarar referred to an Islamabad High Court ruling concerning disruption to public life through protests.

He said it was the responsibility of the government and administration to ensure that public life was not disrupted.

“No armed group,” he said, would be allowed to enter Islamabad, adding that the government’s position on the matter was clear.

The minister said awareness campaigns for the fuel scheme had produced encouraging results.

At a meeting with stakeholders, he said authorities had been instructed to ensure that registration banners were displayed even in remote and far-flung areas so that potential beneficiaries were not excluded because of a lack of information.

Separately, Tarar said the prime minister’s entourage for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session had been reduced as part of the government’s austerity measures.