Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday reviewed the implementation of the government’s fuel subsidy scheme for owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc.
The relief scheme was launched nationwide on September 17 following an announcement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aimed at easing the financial burden on citizens amid rising fuel prices linked to the regional situation.
Dar chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy to assess progress on the scheme, according to his office.
The deputy prime minister appreciated the coordinated efforts of the ministries of information technology, petroleum and other relevant departments, along with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and provincial governments.
He stressed the need for continued coordination among relevant institutions to facilitate beneficiaries and ensure smooth delivery of the subsidy across the country.
According to the meeting, around 7.60 million registrations have been completed so far, while the token redemption process has entered its second week. A total of 7.71 million tokens have been redeemed to date.
The meeting was attended by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Tariq Bajwa, federal and provincial secretaries and officials from SBP, Ogra, the National Information Technology Board and the Pakistan Digital Authority.
Under the scheme, owners of two- and three-wheeled vehicles are eligible for a subsidy of Rs100 per litre on a monthly quota of 20 litres. Owners of vehicles up to 800cc are entitled to the same subsidy on a monthly quota of 30 litres.
Dar also chaired a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures.
The committee reviewed progress on measures introduced to conserve fuel and promote austerity, with discussions focusing on fiscal discipline and the prudent use of public resources.
Dar directed the ministries and divisions concerned to ensure full and effective implementation of decisions taken during previous meetings.
The meeting was attended by Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, the cabinet secretary and senior officials from the interior, finance, foreign affairs, commerce, law and climate change ministries.
Fuel prices have risen amid renewed tensions in the Middle East and disruptions affecting major oil supply routes.
The situation around the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Iran conflict, has affected concerns over energy supplies. Trade through the Bab al-Mandab route has also faced increased security risks.
The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil supply and demand could decline further than previously projected, with continued uncertainty over the restoration of normal Middle East oil flows.
In July, the government announced that domestic fuel prices would be adjusted daily in response to fluctuations in international oil prices.
Before that decision, fuel prices had been revised weekly since early March, alongside government measures aimed at conserving fuel.
The federal government had also introduced targeted fuel relief measures in April to provide subsidised fuel to eligible consumers.
