Pakistan expands fuel relief scheme for older motorcycles, removes SMS charges

Pakistan has widened eligibility and eased conditions under its Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, particularly for motorcycle, rickshaw and Qingqi users, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday, citing Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

The changes follow feedback from citizens and journalists.

What has changed in Pakistan's fuel relief scheme?

The government has made three changes to the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme. It has extended eligibility to older motorcycles, removed the five-litre limit per token, and made SMS services free for eligible users. Khawaja said the measures aim to broaden access and address problems beneficiaries reported.

• Older motorcycles eligible: The registration cut-off for motorcycles has been extended to Jan. 1, 2006, from 2011.
• Five-litre cap removed: The previous five-litre limit per token for motorcycles, Qingqis and rickshaws has been abolished. Eligible users can obtain four tokens a month, with each carrying a Rs500 relief, and can buy fuel according to their requirements, subject to the monthly token limit.
• SMS charges scrapped: Registration and other SMS services under the scheme will be free for all eligible users, including those with cars and two- and three-wheelers.

How do you register for the fuel relief scheme?

Applicants must send an SMS to 9771 containing their CNIC number, vehicle registration number, province code and vehicle registration date. The vehicle registration number must be entered without spaces. Khawaja said the registration date had been added as a verification measure to prevent unauthorised registration.

Eligible motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users can send "TOK" to 9771 once a week to receive a fuel relief token, while car users can obtain tokens according to the prescribed schedule. Ownership of a motorcycle, Qingqi or rickshaw is not mandatory if the applicant has the relevant vehicle documents and custody of the vehicle, she said.

The registration and complaint system has been kept on ordinary SMS rather than requiring a smartphone or internet connection, allowing people without internet access to participate, Khawaja said.

Khawaja warned beneficiaries against fraud, saying the government had imposed no charges for registration, SMS services or issuance of fuel tokens. She advised applicants not to share their national identity card numbers, vehicle registration details or other personal information with unauthorised individuals.

Beneficiaries facing problems with registration or at petrol stations can call 9771 to lodge complaints. Petrol stations using the token-validation application can also report technical problems through the same helpline.

How many people have registered for the fuel relief scheme?

More than 1.75 million people had registered under the scheme by 3 p.m., while about 1.5 million tokens had been generated and more than 680,000 redeemed at petrol stations, Khawaja said. The government was monitoring registrations and token redemptions, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was overseeing the scheme's implementation, she said.

A steering committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and an implementation committee are working with relevant ministries, departments, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, the State Bank of Pakistan and other institutions to address operational issues, Khawaja said. A 24-hour control room has also been established at the IT ministry to handle complaints, she added.

District and provincial administrations are supporting the rollout, while information on registration has been displayed at petrol stations, the minister said. She added that the government would continue reviewing public feedback and could make further changes to improve access to the scheme.