More than 22,000 residents of Islamabad have benefited from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s fuel relief scheme, according to figures released by Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The minister said 22,244 people in the capital had so far received relief under the scheme.
According to the figures, 17,689 motorcyclists and 4,555 car owners in Islamabad have benefited from the programme.
PM announces fuel relief scheme
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the special fuel relief scheme after taking notice of rising oil prices in the international market.
Under the scheme, motorcycle, rickshaw and small-car owners are eligible for a relief of Rs100 per litre on a specified monthly fuel quota.
The prime minister said the government was aware of the financial pressure caused by rising fuel prices and would not leave people alone during the difficult period.
Motorcycle and rickshaw owners are eligible for relief on up to 20 litres of petrol per month, while owners of vehicles with engines up to 800cc can receive relief on up to 30 litres per month.
Petrol dealers reject scheme
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has refused to implement the prime minister’s fuel relief scheme, citing concerns over the mechanism for reimbursing the subsidy.
Association leader Nauman Ali Butt said the subsidy itself was a welcome step, but petrol dealers had serious reservations about how the government planned to make the payments.
He claimed the government had not consulted petroleum dealers before launching the scheme.
In a statement issued from Karachi, Butt said neither the relevant ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had taken dealers into confidence.
He alleged that the scheme was being imposed on petrol pumps without informing or consulting the dealers.
