Pakistan’s government has approved SMS-based redemption of fuel subsidy tokens at petrol stations located in areas without internet connectivity, expanding access to the Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme.
The decision was taken by the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have been asked to identify fuel stations without internet access so they can be brought into the subsidy system.
Authorities have also been directed to ensure that every open and operational fuel station is added to the system, while permanently closed stations and those dealing exclusively in diesel are removed from the list. Registration for the scheme continues nationwide through SMS to 9771.
The State Bank of Pakistan informed the committee that all fuel subsidy payment claims received during the previous three days had been settled in full, with claims processed on the same day they were received.
The government has also made changes to improve access to the scheme. SMS charges have been removed, while the five-litre limit linked to individual fuel tokens for eligible two- and three-wheelers has been abolished.
The latest measures are aimed at making the fuel relief system accessible to eligible beneficiaries even in areas where internet connectivity is limited or unavailable.
