Motorcyclists, rickshaw owners and users of vehicles up to 800cc will receive targeted petrol relief under the new government scheme.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a special fuel relief scheme offering a Rs100 per litre discount on petrol for motorcyclists, rickshaw and Chingchi owners, and users of vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc.
The initiative aims to cushion lower-income motorists against the impact of rising fuel prices amid heightened volatility in global oil markets caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Following the latest increase announced on Friday, petrol is being sold at Rs375.82 per litre, up Rs5.02, while high-speed diesel (HSD) has risen by Rs5.28 to Rs403.32 per litre.
Rs100 petrol relief for motorcycles and rickshaws
Announcing the scheme, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the government was fully aware of the pressure rising oil prices were placing on the public and would not leave people alone during the difficult period.
Under the relief package, owners and users of motorcycles, rickshaws and other two- and three-wheeled vehicles will receive Rs100 per litre relief on purchases of up to 20 litres of petrol per month.
Owners of small vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc will be eligible for the same Rs100 per litre relief on purchases of up to 30 litres of petrol per month.
The scheme is designed to provide targeted assistance to people who rely heavily on small vehicles for daily commuting and livelihoods.
Petrol relief scheme to begin in Islamabad
The scheme will initially take effect in Islamabad from the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
It will subsequently be rolled out across the rest of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, from the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
Registration for the relief programme has opened with immediate effect. The government will also conduct an awareness campaign to inform eligible citizens about the registration process.
The prime minister thanked provincial governments for cooperating by sharing vehicle registration data to support implementation of the scheme.
Government responds to global oil price volatility
The relief package comes as Pakistan faces sharp fluctuations in international oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East.
In July, the government shifted to a daily fuel price review mechanism in response to heightened volatility in global oil markets.
Following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict on February 28, the government had initially moved from its fortnightly petroleum price revisions to a weekly review system.
The conflict, which involved attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, also led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime route that handled nearly one-fifth of global energy supplies before the conflict.
The subsequent collapse of a fragile ceasefire reached between Tehran and Washington in June further intensified fears of a wider regional conflict and potential disruption to energy shipments through the strategic waterway.
Before the introduction of the weekly review mechanism, Pakistan revised petroleum prices on a fortnightly basis.
The new petrol relief scheme is therefore intended to provide immediate targeted support to small-vehicle users while the government continues to respond to volatility in international energy markets.