ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a special “relief scheme” to cushion the public from the sharp rise in global oil prices, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
“We will not leave the public alone in this hour of difficulty,” PM Sharif said.
He added that the government was "fully aware" of the burden the fuel price hike had placed on ordinary citizens, and pledged that the state would not abandon the public.
Global oil prices have surged dramatically in the last two weeks, driven by recent escalations in the Middle East and heavy disruptions along key shipping channels; the international benchmark Brent Crude shot up from $94.11 per barrel to $113.48 this week.
Under the government's scheme, users of motorcycles, rickshaws, and small vehicles up to 800cc will receive a subsidy of Rs 100 per liter on petrol purchases, the PM Office said in a statement.
The statement explained that owners of two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles will get relief of Rs100 per liter on a monthly quota of 20 liters, while owners of small vehicles up to 800cc will get relief of Rs100 per liter on a monthly quota of 30 liters.
The scheme will take effect in Islamabad from the night between Monday and Tuesday, while in the rest of the country, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the relief will be provided from the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
The registration for the scheme has been initiated from Sunday, the PMO statement said.
The prime minister also thanked provincial governments for their cooperation in compiling data on motorcycles, rickshaws and small vehicles registered in their jurisdictions.