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The government has announced the procedure for applying for its targeted petrol subsidy scheme.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the relief as global oil prices surged amid the widening conflict in the Middle East.
Information and Technology Minister Shaza Fatima explained the registration process at a press conference on Monday.
She said eligible users would receive a Rs100-per-litre subsidy on petrol.
The scheme covers motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800cc.
Two- and three-wheeler users can receive subsidised petrol for up to 20 litres per month.
Owners of cars with engines up to 800cc can receive up to 30 litres per month.
The government will implement the scheme in two phases.
First, eligible users must complete registration. They can then generate tokens to purchase subsidised petrol.
Applicants can register from home by sending an SMS to 9771.
The SMS must contain the following information:
13-digit CNIC number
Vehicle registration number
First letter or full name of the registration province
Vehicle registration date
The CNIC must match the SIM used for registration.
Authorities will verify the information through Pakistan Telecommunication Authority data.
Applicants must also enter the province where they registered the vehicle. They should not enter their province of residence or domicile.
Shaza said the registration date would help authorities verify vehicle records. It would also help prevent stolen vehicles from entering the scheme.
The government has changed the eligibility rules for motorcycles and three-wheelers.
Users can apply even if they are not the registered owners of these vehicles.
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Shaza said the change reflects common ownership arrangements involving open transfer letters and informal vehicle use.
For cars, however, only the registered owner can apply for the subsidy.
Successful applicants will receive a confirmation message after registration.
The government will require users to complete registration only once.
After registration, beneficiaries can request subsidised petrol by sending TOK to 9771.
The system will issue a token number. Users can present the token at a participating petrol station for verification.
Motorcycle and three-wheeler users will receive tokens for five litres at a time.
Car users will receive tokens for 10 litres.
The five-litre transaction will provide a Rs500 discount.
The 10-litre transaction will provide a Rs1,000 discount.
Shaza urged beneficiaries to check the fuel quantity before leaving the petrol station. She also asked them to confirm that the correct discount had been deducted from the bill.
Shaza warned beneficiaries about possible fraud linked to the programme.
She said the government would not contact users to demand money, OTPs, codes or additional registration information.
“The Government of Pakistan will not in any form ask you for any data or any charges,” she said.
She urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid sharing sensitive information with unknown callers or messages.
Shaza said the government had built checks and balances into the scheme because it involves public funds.
The government will also review the system and make improvements as the programme expands.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government was also preparing for possible fuel supply disruptions.
He said he held a one-hour meeting with private-sector refineries on Monday.
Officials discussed petroleum availability for September and October. They also reviewed contingency plans for a possible disruption around Bab el-Mandeb.
Malik said the government wanted to prevent fuel shortages at petrol stations.
He noted that petrol pumps did not face shortages during the previous crisis. The government now wants to maintain the same supply situation.
A war room has also been established to deal with problems reported by petrol stations.
Malik said any affected pump could contact the relevant authorities for an immediate response.
Malik said Pakistan imports around 90% of its petroleum requirements.
Therefore, the government must manage its resources carefully while protecting vulnerable consumers.
He said the recent oil shock had created an unprecedented challenge.
Between March 1 and June 30, diesel prices rose from around $90 per barrel to $280-$290 per barrel.
Crude oil prices increased from about $70 to $170 per barrel.
Petrol prices also rose from around $76 to $135 per barrel.
Malik said the government used all available resources to protect consumers during that period.
Private-sector refineries also responded to the government’s request for support.
The refineries temporarily shifted from the refined-product formula to the crude-oil formula. This helped reduce the price of locally produced diesel.
Malik said the government chose targeted relief instead of reducing the petroleum levy.
The levy currently stands at Rs78 per litre, with an additional Rs5 carbon surcharge.
The government will instead provide Rs100-per-litre monthly relief to eligible users.
Malik said the scheme targets two-wheelers, three-wheelers and small cars. These vehicles are widely used by salaried and lower-middle-income households.
The government will initially launch the scheme at around 150 petrol pumps in Islamabad.
It will then expand the programme across Pakistan.
Malik also said the government was working to strengthen the country’s refining sector.
The government expects progress by October 1 on a planned $5 billion investment in the refining industry.
The investment could increase refineries’ ability to process crude oil from different sources, including neighbouring countries.
The prime minister is also overseeing work on strategic reserves and the gas sector.
Malik said subsidy funds would reach petrol stations through daily settlements.
The State Bank has already obtained the relevant account details.
The targeted petrol subsidy aims to provide immediate relief to vulnerable vehicle users while the government prepares for continued volatility in global energy markets.
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