Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a fresh petrol subsidy for motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and cars up to 800cc, offering Rs. 100 per litre relief on a capped monthly quantity as global oil prices continue climbing.

How the Subsidy Works

Motorcycle and Qingqi rickshaw owners can claim the discount on up to 20 litres of petrol monthly, saving up to Rs. 2,000. Cars up to 800cc get the same Rs. 100/litre discount on up to 30 litres, capped at Rs. 3,000 per month. The government says the scheme targets vehicles most commonly used for daily commuting and local transport, rather than a blanket price cut for all vehicle categories.

To register, vehicle owners send an SMS with their CNIC number, vehicle registration number, provincial code and registration date from a SIM registered in their own name. The Ministry of IT has built an automated verification system with NADRA, telecom operators and provincial transport departments. After confirmation, users send “TOK” to 9771 before visiting a pump to generate a redeemable token.

Rollout and Telecom Support

Islamabad is first in line, with subsidized petrol available from the night between Monday and Tuesday, before the scheme extends nationwide, including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, from Wednesday night. JazzWorld has cut its corporate SMS rates for the program by nearly 66 percent and fast-tracked short-code setup, while also supporting a new complaint management center being set up by the Ministry of IT.

For motorcycle owners and rickshaw operators who form the bulk of Pakistan’s registered vehicles, the subsidy could meaningfully offset recent fuel price hikes, though its success will depend on how smoothly the SMS registration and token system performs once distribution begins.

Related: Govt Plans Rs. 2,000 Monthly Cash Relief for Bike Owners

Related: How Bike, Rickshaw and Small Car Owners Can Register for Discounted Petrol