Fuel Relief Scheme Drops Five-Litre Limit for Bikes and Rickshaws

The federal government has removed the five-litre petrol purchase limit attached to individual relief tokens for eligible motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi vehicles, introducing a major adjustment to the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme. Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced the changes as authorities sought to make the subsidy system easier to use for people relying on two- and three-wheelers.

Under the revised arrangement, eligible beneficiaries will continue to receive four fuel-relief tokens each month, with each token carrying a subsidy value of Rs500. However, users will no longer be required to purchase a fixed quantity of up to five litres when redeeming a token. The relief amount can instead be applied against a fuel purchase according to the beneficiary’s immediate requirement.

The government has also expanded eligibility for older motorcycles. Motorcycles registered from January 1, 2006, can now qualify for the programme, replacing the previous eligibility cut-off of 2011. The adjustment substantially widens the potential pool of beneficiaries, particularly among households and workers who continue to use older motorcycles for daily transportation.

Another change removes SMS charges linked to the scheme. Officials said registration, token requests and related communication through the designated system will be free for beneficiaries, including users of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi vehicles and eligible small cars. The measure is intended to keep access available to people who may not use smartphones or have reliable internet connections.

The programme has already attracted significant public participation. More than 1.75 million registrations had been completed by 3pm when the latest figures were announced, while approximately 1.5 million relief tokens had been generated. More than 680,000 tokens had already been redeemed at petrol stations, indicating substantial use of the subsidy mechanism shortly after its rollout.

Authorities are monitoring the system through a steering committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and an implementation committee involving relevant ministries, departments, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and the State Bank of Pakistan. A round-the-clock control room has also been established at the information technology ministry to receive complaints and address operational difficulties reported by consumers and petrol station operators.

Beneficiaries have been advised not to pay anyone for registration, tokens or information connected with the programme and not to share personal identification or vehicle-registration information with unauthorised individuals. Complaints and technical problems can be reported through the designated 9771 service, which is also being used by fuel stations operating the token-validation system.

The latest changes are expected to make the relief programme more flexible for motorcycle and rickshaw users, who often purchase fuel in smaller quantities and form a large segment of Pakistan’s daily commuters. Officials said public feedback will continue to be reviewed, leaving open the possibility of further adjustments as the government monitors registration, token redemption and implementation across the country.