Over 10 Million People Benefit From Fuel Subsidy Scheme

“More than 10 million people have benefited from the fuel subsidy scheme, while 21.7 million tokens have been issued and around 19.4 million redeemed.”

— Editorial Team

Key points

More than 10 million people have benefited from the fuel subsidy scheme, while 21.7 million tokens have been issued and around 19.4 million redeemed.
The government says Rs75 billion has been allocated to support motorcyclists, Qingqi rickshaw users and owners of vehicles up to 800cc.

Business|By Editorial Team|Published 09-Oct-26|Latest update 10/9/2026, 4:21:00 PM|2 min read

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that more than 10 million people have benefited from the government's fuel subsidy scheme, presenting the programme as a targeted relief measure for citizens facing transport and fuel-cost pressure.

Speaking during a meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister said the scheme would continue to support motorcyclists, Qingqi rickshaw users and owners of vehicles with engine capacity of up to 800cc. The measure is aimed at lower- and middle-income citizens who rely on smaller vehicles for daily travel and work.

According to the figures shared in the meeting, more than 21.7 million tokens have been issued under the scheme. Around 19.4 million of those tokens have been redeemed by citizens to obtain fuel at subsidized rates, indicating broad public use of the programme.

The prime minister said the government has allocated Rs75 billion for the relief initiative. The allocation is intended to reduce fuel-related financial pressure on deserving citizens while keeping the support targeted rather than universal.

Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the coordinated role of federal and provincial governments, along with relevant institutions, in implementing the subsidy mechanism. He said cooperation among different tiers of government was important for making the programme operational and accessible.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the fuel relief initiative and the role of departments involved in its execution. The prime minister thanked chief ministers, chief secretaries, federal ministries and other departments for supporting the scheme.

Recognition was also announced for officials involved in the programme. The prime minister announced an award for Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and shields for other officials and teams for their contribution to the scheme's rollout.

The next focus for the government will be sustaining the subsidy mechanism, improving coordination and ensuring that the relief continues to reach the intended citizens. The scale of token issuance and redemption suggests that the scheme will remain a closely watched public welfare measure as fuel prices continue to affect household budgets.