Sindh, Punjab and Islamabad unveil relief after sharp petrol price increase

Islamabad: The Sindh and Punjab governments announced relief measures on Friday, a day after the federal government raised petrol prices by Rs137 per litre to a record Rs458.4.

According to the reported details, the latest petrol price is significantly above the increase seen in the international market after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to raise the petroleum levy on petrol to a record Rs160.61 per litre. It was the second major fuel price increase in less than a month after diesel and petrol prices were raised by Rs55 per litre last month. The cumulative increase in petrol prices within a month now stands at 63%, while high-speed diesel has risen by 75%.

Sindh announces subsidy for motorcyclists and transporters

At a press conference in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government would provide a monthly subsidy of Rs2,000 to registered motorcyclists across Sindh. He said public transport and goods transport operators would also receive monthly subsidies ranging from Rs70,000 to Rs100,000.

Shah said the measure was intended to reduce the burden on daily commuters, adding that petrol would not be available at lower rates at fuel stations. He said the application process would become operational within two to three days and that the subsidy would be linked to national identity cards and registered motorcycles.

The chief minister also announced that motorcycle transfers would be made free of charge so owners could register vehicles in their own names.

A subsidy of Rs100 per litre will be provided, and the first transfers will be completed within 15 days. Each registered motorcyclist will receive Rs2,000 directly,

He urged citizens to verify their motorcycle registration through the Excise Department’s website and said the programme was part of a targeted relief plan.

Murad Ali Shah also outlined support for small farmers, including a minimum wheat price of Rs3,500 per maund and a Rs1,500 per acre subsidy for farmers with up to 2 million acres to offset losses linked to higher diesel prices. He said payments to farmers would begin on April 6.

He further said Sindh would run the programme independently for a one-month trial period after discussions on a third proposal. According to Shah, the final plan has four components, with two to be administered by the provinces and one by the federal government, while funding would be provided to the provinces.

He said Sindh has 6.7 million registered motorcycles, many of them not registered in the actual owner’s name.

We decided that Rs100 per motorcyclist will be provided as subsidy,

The chief minister said provincial leaders had taken part in what he described as a historic meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari on energy imports and subsidy measures. He said subsidies were initially considered on a broader basis, but IMF guidance recommended targeting relief to those most affected by rising fuel costs. He added that lengthy deliberations resulted in a decision to focus support on motorcyclists, small farmers and transport operators.

Punjab announces free public transport and fuel support

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced that public transport in all cities of the province would be made free. Under the decision, passengers will not have to buy tickets for the Orange Line Train, Metro Bus, Speedo Bus and Green Electro Bus services.

She also announced direct support for the agriculture sector. Farmers will receive a subsidy of Rs100 per litre of diesel per acre, while registered motorcycle owners will get a subsidy of Rs100 on 20 litres of fuel.

Maryam Nawaz praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for maintaining petroleum product supply and prices for a month despite global pressures, saying that

by providing billions of rupees in relief, the prime minister has made a sincere effort to protect the public from hardship

Islamabad transport to remain free for 30 days

Public transport in Islamabad will also be made free for the next 30 days on the prime minister’s directives, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a post on X.

On the directions of the Prime Minister, all public transport in Islamabad will be made free of cost for the general public for the next 30 days, starting tomorrow. The Ministry of Interior will bear the expenditure of Rs. 350 million for this public relief initiative. Thank you…

According to the interior minister, the initiative will begin on Saturday and is aimed at providing relief to the public amid rising economic pressure. He said the Ministry of Interior would bear the cost of the scheme, estimated at Rs350 million.