Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a special relief scheme on September 13, offering Rs100 per litre off petrol for motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqis and vehicles with engines up to 800cc, as global oil prices continue rising amid tensions in the Middle East.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said the government was taking "immediate notice" of the burden placed on the public by the recent surge in international oil prices. "In this hour of difficulty, we will not leave the public alone," the PM said, announcing the scheme for users of motorcycles, rickshaws, Chingchis and small vehicles.
Who Qualifies and How Much
Owners of two-wheelers and three-wheelers, including motorcycles, rickshaws and Chingchis, will receive Rs100 per litre relief on up to 20 litres of petrol per month. Owners of small cars with engines up to 800cc will receive the same Rs100 per litre relief, but on a higher monthly quota of 30 litres.
Registration for the scheme opened on September 13, though the Prime Minister's Office has not yet detailed the exact registration process. The government said this would be communicated separately through an awareness campaign.
When It Takes Effect
The rollout is staggered by region. In Islamabad, the scheme takes effect from the night of September 14 into September 15. Across the rest of the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, it takes effect two days later, from the night of September 16 into September 17.
Why Now
The announcement follows petrol and diesel prices rising again on September 12, with petrol reaching Rs375.82 per litre and high speed diesel climbing to Rs403.32 per litre. The increases have been driven by escalating tensions between the US and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, along with a separate attack by Yemen's Houthi forces on Saudi energy facilities, which has added a further source of pressure on global oil markets beyond the Iran-US standoff alone.
The Prime Minister thanked provincial governments for their cooperation in supplying data on registered motorcycles, rickshaws and small vehicles, which the federal government is using to help identify who qualifies for the scheme.
