PM waives SMS charges for fuel subsidy scheme

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered the launch of a fuel subsidy scheme for owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc to provide relief to low-income and middle-class people hit by rising petrol prices amid the situation in the Gulf. The prime minister, who chaired a high-level meeting to review progress on the PM Special Relief Scheme, also ordered that the SMS required for registration be made free of charge. The scheme will be launched in Islamabad in the early hours of Tuesday (September 15), while eligible motorists across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, will be able to avail themselves of the petrol relief from the night of Sept 16-17. READ MORE: PM Shehbaz announces Rs100 per litre fuel relief for bikes, rickshaws, small cars Sharif directed the Islamabad administration, including the chief commissioner and inspector general, to remain present in the field to guide citizens through the registration process. He also ordered the mobilisation of public representatives and volunteers across the country to assist people with registration and other formalities. The prime minister directed the government to mount an extensive awareness campaign through print, electronic, digital and social media to ensure that the scheme reached the maximum number of deserving citizens. Officials told the meeting that more than 600, 000 SMS messages had been received in the Islamabad region by Monday afternoon, with 42, 933 applicants successfully registered for the scheme. Only four pieces of information are required for registration: the applicant’s CNIC number, vehicle number plate, province of registration and vehicle registration date, officials said. Full details of the scheme are available on the Urdu-language website www. pmfuelrelief. pk, officials said. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kayani, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa and senior officials of relevant institutions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

Read full story on Business Recorder