PM Shehbaz directs to include 20-year-old bikes, rickshaws in fuel relief scheme

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday issued directives to include motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqis that were registered after Jan 1, 2006 in the govt’s recently announced fuel scheme.

“All motorcycles, rickshaws, and Qingqis registered after Jan 1, 2006, will be eligible for registration in the Prime Minister Fuel Relief Scheme,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on the social media platform X.

“Now, those who drive 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws, and Qingqis will also be able to benefit from the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme,” it said.

PM Shehbaz Sharif had on Sep 13 announced a “relief scheme” for users of motorcycles, autos and vehicles of up to 800cc to “alleviate the burden” of rising global oil prices.

Under the scheme, owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqis, three-wheelers and vehicles with engines of up to 800cc will receive a Rs100 per litre relief on petrol.

Motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqis, as well as other two- and three-wheeler users, are eligible for relief on 20 litres of petrol per month. Owners of small cars with engines up to 800cc will receive the Rs100 per litre relief on 30 litres of petrol every month.

Renewed hostilities in the Middle East, which have resulted in disruption of major oil supply routes, have caused fuel prices to rise in the past two months.

In addition to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war, trade via Bab al-Mandab — which has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports in recent months — is also facing a rising threat from Houthi rebels.

The subsidy scheme faced snags on Thursday, the first day of its nationwide rollout, as many petrol pumps declined to honour the digital app, claiming they lacked the system needed to provide petrol at Rs100 per litre less.

A day prior, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) expressed concerns that its members were unaware of the subsidy disbursement mechanism and feared they would have to run from pillar to post to recover the amount.

Amid the fuel crisis, the federal government on Thursday also reintroduced austerity measures, including setting 9pm as the closing time for markets and reducing fuel provision for official vehicles by 50 per cent for a period of three months.