ISLAMABAD: The government has scrapped the five-litre-per-token restriction under the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, while also widening eligibility for older motorcycles and making SMS services free for all beneficiaries.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima announced the changes during a media briefing on Saturday, saying the measures were introduced in response to public feedback and to make the scheme more accessible.
She said motorcycles registered from January 1, 2006 would now qualify for the scheme, replacing the earlier eligibility cut-off of 2011.
The minister said the government had also removed the five-litre fuel ceiling previously applicable to each Rs500 relief token for motorcycles, Qingqi rickshaws and other eligible three-wheelers.
Under the revised system, eligible two- and three-wheeler users can receive four Rs500 tokens per month, with the relief amount deducted from the total fuel bill according to the quantity purchased.
Giving an example, Fatima said if two litres of petrol cost Rs780, the beneficiary would pay Rs280 after availing the Rs500 token.
She said the government had also eliminated SMS charges under the scheme for all categories, including owners of vehicles up to 800cc as well as motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users.
Over 1.75m registrations completed
Fatima said more than 1.75 million people had registered under the scheme by 3pm, while around 1.5 million tokens had been generated. Of these, more than 680,000 tokens had been redeemed at petrol stations.
She said the government was monitoring registrations and token usage on a regular basis, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally overseeing implementation.
A steering committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and a separate implementation committee are coordinating with relevant ministries, departments, OGRA, the State Bank of Pakistan and other institutions to resolve operational issues, she added.
The minister said a 24-hour control room had also been established at the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication to deal with complaints.
Citizens warned against fraud
Fatima cautioned beneficiaries against fraud, stressing that the government was not charging any fee for registration, SMS services or the issuance of fuel tokens.
She advised citizens not to share their CNIC numbers, vehicle registration information or other personal details with unauthorised individuals.
Complaints regarding registration or problems encountered at petrol stations can be lodged through helpline 9771, which is also available to petrol station operators using the token-verification application.
According to the minister, district and provincial administrations are assisting with implementation, while petrol stations have been provided with banners and information about the registration process.
How to register
Explaining the registration process, Fatima said applicants should 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. She said the registration date was added as an additional verification measure to prevent unauthorised enrolment.
Fatima clarified that applicants do not necessarily have to be the registered owners of motorcycles, Qingqis or rickshaws, provided they have the relevant vehicle documents and custody of the vehicle.
Eligible two- and three-wheeler users can send “TOK” to 9771 once a week to receive their fuel relief token, while car owners will receive tokens according to the applicable schedule.
The minister said the scheme had deliberately been kept on the SMS platform so that people without smartphones or internet access could also use it.
She added that the government would continue reviewing public feedback and introduce further changes where required to improve access to the relief programme.
