State Minister for Petroleum, Dr Musadik Malik, revealed that the government will provide petrol at Rs100 below the official rate for motorbikes and cars with an engine capacity of up to 800cc.
This initiative comes just a day after the announcement of a Rs50 subsidy on each litre of petrol for the less privileged citizens.
The initial idea, according to Dr. Malik, was to give petrol to owners of motorcycles and cars with up to 800cc engines at a price that was Rs50 less than the Ogra-notified rate. The Prime Minister, however, asked that the discount be raised to Rs. 100 on Sunday night.
Out of the 220 million people in the country, 210 million are considered to be poor, according to the minister, and the scheme’s goal is to help them. Owners of automobiles or other vehicles with engines larger than 800 cc will pay a higher price for petrol than is currently the case.
.In the same vein, the government has separated Pakistan into two categories – one for the poor and the other for the rich, according to Dr Malik. By making petrol costlier for the rich, the government can offer cheaper petrol to the poor.
The minister added that as of January 1, 2023, the gas tariff for the wealthy and the poor had already been divided. The cost of gas for the wealthy is one-fourth higher than it is for the underprivileged. Electricity consumption subsidies are already in place, with bills being less expensive for users of up to 400 units.
Dr. Malik stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the government 45 days to implement the plan. Currently, the government is gathering information on eligible individuals through the registration of motorcycles, automobiles, computerised national identity cards, and mobile devices.
The government has chosen to use EasyPaisa, JazzCash, and other services instead of the discounted fuel cards that were initially intended to be distributed. A text message with a registration code that can be used to pay less for gas at gas stations will be sent to eligible people with smartphones or basic phones.
For people who own bikes, the monthly quota will be 21 litres, while those who own cars will get a single full tank of discounted gas.
This initiative aims to offer desperately needed relief to Pakistan’s poor, who have been severely impacted by rising fuel prices.
An encouraging step towards achieving a more equitable society is the government’s commitment to providing cheaper petrol, gas, and electricity for the less fortunate.
