The Ministry of Information Technology has laid out the registration process for the government’s petrol relief scheme, which offers eligible citizens a discount of Rs. 100 per litre. This relief aims to cushion small vehicle owners against the recent rise in global oil prices. Officials developed the digital system together with NADRA, telecom operators and provincial departments to manage registration and verification.
Motorcycle, rickshaw, Qingqi rickshaw and small car owners with engines up to 800cc all qualify for the discount. Bike and Qingqi rickshaw owners can claim subsidized petrol for up to 20 litres per month. Meanwhile, owners of vehicles up to 800cc can claim a higher monthly limit of 30 litres. Authorities will verify every vehicle automatically through provincial transport and excise department records, so applicants do not need to submit separate paperwork.
Registration itself works through a simple SMS. Citizens must send the message from a SIM they have registered in their own name, including their CNIC number, vehicle number, provincial code and registration date. Instead of visiting a government office, applicants can complete the entire process from their phones. Applicants will also receive a confirmation message on their mobile number after successful registration.
Before visiting a petrol pump, registered citizens must send “TOK” to 9771 to generate a fresh token. They can then show this token at the pump to receive their discounted fuel. Moreover, the token system tracks every litre of subsidized petrol accurately, which should limit misuse of the scheme. Pump staff will simply confirm the token before dispensing fuel, keeping the process quick for both sides.
The rollout of the petrol relief scheme will happen in stages. Supply of discounted fuel in Islamabad will begin between Monday and Tuesday midnight. Finally, distribution will extend across the rest of the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, between Wednesday and Thursday midnight. Citizens should therefore complete registration early, since delays could mean missing the subsidy once it becomes available.
