ISLAMABAD, Sunday, September 20, 2026: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday said more than 2.2 million registrations under the Prime Minister’s Special Fuel Scheme reflected its successful rollout nationwide, with motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users making up 92 per cent of those registered.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Tarar said the targeted fuel relief programme was being implemented across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while registrations and token redemptions were being monitored through a dedicated digital system.
He said around 1.9 million tokens had been issued so far. Of these, approximately 1.8 million were for motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqis, while 152,000 had been issued for cars of up to 800cc.
92pc registrations from two- and three-wheelers
Tarar said the high proportion of motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users among registered applicants showed that the targeted scheme was reaching the segment for which it had primarily been designed.
He said the government introduced the programme as international tensions pushed up petrol and diesel prices globally, affecting Pakistan as well.
According to the minister, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought relevant departments and institutions together and directed them to develop a targeted mechanism aimed at providing relief to ordinary and lower-income consumers rather than extending a blanket fuel subsidy.
Tarar said the Ministry of Information Technology developed a digital dashboard and backend mechanism for generating tokens and monitoring implementation.
Eligibility conditions relaxed after public feedback
The minister said the government had modified several conditions following feedback from citizens and the media.
Eligibility was extended to motorcycles, Qingqis and rickshaws registered after 2006, while SMS charges for registration were waived. The earlier condition restricting subsidised fuel purchases for two- and three-wheelers to five litres per token per week was also relaxed.
Tarar said eligible motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users could now use one token each week, up to four times a month, receiving Rs500 in relief on each occasion.
Owners of cars up to 800cc can receive Rs100 per litre in relief on 10 litres of petrol every 10 days, covering up to 30 litres through three tokens each month.
He said the targeted subsidy effectively brought petrol costs for beneficiaries closer to levels prevailing before the latest international energy-price surge.
500,000 registrations recorded in a day, Tarar says
Tarar said the registration mechanism had been kept simple so that people without smartphones could also participate through SMS.
Vehicle ownership was not a prerequisite for registration, he said, adding that applicants needed the vehicle’s registration number and registration date to complete the process.
According to Tarar, around 500,000 people registered in a single day before Sunday’s news conference.
He said the scheme was available at petrol pumps operated by oil marketing companies across the country. Banners were being displayed at filling stations, while local administrations had been tasked with monitoring implementation.
The minister said OGRA was issuing instructions to petrol pumps, while a dedicated war room at the Ministry of IT was operating around the clock to track registrations and token redemptions and resolve problems.
He added that authorities could identify petrol stations where no tokens were being redeemed and take necessary action to ensure implementation.
Tarar calls targeted fuel scheme ‘unprecedented’
Tarar described the programme as an unprecedented targeted relief initiative and said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was regularly receiving updates from relevant departments and stakeholders.
Responding to demands for a blanket fuel subsidy, he said the government had deliberately opted for targeted assistance so that public resources benefited deserving consumers rather than owners of large vehicles.
He thanked provincial governments and the administrations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan for supporting the scheme’s implementation.
Tarar also urged citizens to continue providing feedback, saying the government would use it to improve the programme and address implementation issues.