ISLAMABAD:The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a Rs75 billion, three-month relief package for motorcyclists and small car owners hit by rising fuel prices, cleared at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday. The amount equals roughly 16% of the government’s projected monthly petroleum levy collection of Rs139 billion.
Two- and three-wheeler owners will get Rs500 per week, while small car owners (up to 800cc) will receive Rs1,000 every ten days. The relief is limited to non-commercial users, one vehicle per person. Notably, existing fuel levies remain untouched petrol still carries an Rs80 petroleum levy, Rs5 climate levy, and Rs21 customs duty per litre, with prices at Rs376 per litre on Monday.
To register, send your CNIC number, vehicle plate number, first letter of your province, and registration date via SMS to 9771. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the Ministry of IT will run the digital Fuel Pass System, with PM Shehbaz Sharif ordering the SMS service free of charge.
Islamabad’s rollout began the night of September 14–15, with the rest of the country, including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, following from September 16–17. By Monday afternoon, over 600,000 SMS attempts had been logged in Islamabad, with 42,933 successful registrations. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the scheme reflects efforts to protect vulnerable groups despite limited resources.
In other decisions, the ECC approved selling a 29.5% PNSC stake to the National Logistics Corporation for Rs29.2 billion, cleared the export of 200,000 metric tons of surplus sugar despite IMF objections, and sanctioned 15 more bulletproof vehicles worth Rs3 billion ahead of the SCO summit bringing the total to 45 vehicles worth Rs9.6 billion in two weeks. A decision on used vehicle imports was deferred.
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