ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has reiterated the government’s commitment to the Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme, emphasizing its role in aiding vulnerable citizens across the nation. He stressed that geographical barriers should not prevent eligible beneficiaries from accessing the scheme’s benefits.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Deputy Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy in Islamabad. The meeting evaluated the scheme’s implementation and considered public feedback collected during the first 48 hours of its nationwide rollout. In response to this feedback, Dar instructed the establishment of alternative arrangements for fuel stations in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other remote rural regions.

The Prime Minister, taking into account citizens’ feedback, has approved two significant adjustments for motorcycles, three-wheelers, and rickshaws. The first change eliminates the requirement for a minimum purchase of five liters in a single transaction. Beneficiaries will now receive a weekly token worth five hundred rupees, redeemable for fuel in any quantity, thus accommodating citizens who purchase smaller amounts. The second modification extends the eligibility age limit from 15 to 20 years for two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

For four-wheelers up to 800cc, the existing arrangement remains unchanged, with one 10-liter token available every 10 days, equivalent to three tokens per month. The scheme ensures that the full value of the five-hundred-rupee token is passed on to the consumer without any deductions or service charges by fuel stations.

The Committee also reviewed the progress on registration, token redemption, and the settlement of payments to fuel stations. Ishaq Dar directed the State Bank of Pakistan to provide payment-status reports twice daily, at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, to identify and rectify any rejected transactions promptly.