ISLAMABAD – As petrol prices continue to haunt Pakistanis, Pakistani government is exploring new way to help struggling citizens. Officials are considering providing a petrol subsidy to bike riders through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which already supports millions of low-income families.
Under the proposed plan, eligible riders could receive financial relief equivalent to about Rs2000 per month for petrol. However, the system, possibly using mobile registration, ID Card verification, and digital payments—is still under discussion, and many questions remain about how and when it will actually be implemented.
Pakistan’s federal government has sparked a major debate after announcing a sharp increase in petroleum product prices, while simultaneously unveiling a plan to provide targeted subsidies to motorcycle riders, the middle class, and low-income citizens.
The announcement was initially made by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, who revealed that motorcycle users could receive a subsidy of 100 rupees per liter on up to 20 liters of petrol per month. If implemented, this subsidy would amount to around 2,000 rupees per month for each eligible motorcycle rider, offering some relief to millions struggling with rising fuel costs.
According to the government’s proposed plan, the subsidy would be delivered through a digital system, most likely via a mobile application or SMS service. Under this system, motorcycle users would register using their National Identity Card (CNIC) through SMS or the app.
Once registered, the user could visit a petrol pump where the subsidy would be verified through QR code scanning or another confirmation mechanism before the fuel discount is applied.
However, despite the ambitious announcement, the exact mechanism, mobile application, and payment structure have not yet been finalized.
Who Will Qualify?
The government plans to limit the subsidy to low-income individuals, and an important requirement will be that the motorcycle must be registered in the name of the applicant.
Verification of eligibility will be conducted through NADRA and other government databases to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive the subsidy.
When Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja was asked about the plan, she did not confirm whether the subsidy would definitely be distributed through mobile phones.
Sources say that the mobile system developed by the Ministry of IT is still under testing, and several technical issues have already surfaced during trials.
Islamabad-based economist and former Minister of State Haroon Sharif has warned that Pakistan currently lacks a reliable institutional framework to implement targeted subsidies effectively. He explained that while targeted subsidies are widely used internationally to support specific groups, Pakistan does not yet have the technical or institutional infrastructure required for such a system.
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