PM Shehbaz orders free SMS service for petrol subsidy registration

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to make the SMS service required for registration under the petrol subsidy scheme free of charge.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review arrangements for providing petrol subsidy relief to eligible citizens.

Under the scheme, owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles with engines up to 800cc will be eligible for fuel subsidy.

The fuel subsidy scheme will be launched in Islamabad during the night between September 14 and 15, while eligible citizens across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, will start receiving relief from the night between September 16 and 17.

The prime minister directed the chief commissioner, inspector general and other relevant administration officials in Islamabad to remain present in the field to guide and facilitate the public.

He instructed authorities to provide maximum assistance to citizens during registration and other required procedures. Public representatives and volunteers will also be mobilised to help people complete the registration process and access the scheme.

Prime Minister Shehbaz further directed authorities to launch an extensive media awareness campaign about the fuel subsidy scheme.

Read more: Open-letter bike, rickshaw owners eligible for petrol subsidy: IT Minister

He called for the campaign to be accelerated across all platforms, including social media, to ensure that the public is fully informed about the registration process and other requirements.

Shaza Fatima said eligible applicants could register from home by sending their 13-digit CNIC number, vehicle registration number, first letter of the province where the vehicle is registered, and vehicle registration date to 9771.

The SIM used for registration must be registered in the applicant’s own name and linked to their CNIC.

She said the vehicle registration date would be used as an additional check to establish that the applicant possessed the vehicle’s relevant documentation and to help prevent fraudulent or stolen-vehicle registrations.

After successful registration, beneficiaries will receive a confirmation message.

Before visiting a petrol station, they will then have to send “TOK” to 9771 to obtain a fuel relief token. The token can be presented at a petrol station to receive the subsidised fuel.

The minister said motorcycle and three-wheeler users would be eligible for subsidised petrol on up to 20 litres per month, while cars with engine capacities of up to 800cc would qualify for up to 30 litres per month.

Motorcycle and three-wheeler users will receive fuel tokens for five litres at a time, giving them a Rs500 subsidy per transaction.

Eligible small-car users will receive tokens for 10 litres at a time, providing a Rs1,000 subsidy per transaction.

Motorcycle and three-wheeler users can obtain the subsidy once a week, while eligible car users can avail themselves of it once every 10 days.

Shaza Fatima said motorcycles up to 15 years old and cars up to 20 years old would be eligible under the scheme.

She urged eligible citizens to register by sending their details to 9771 and warned that incorrect SIM information or inaccurate vehicle details would prevent successful registration.