PM Shehbaz expands fuel relief scheme to 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered on Friday the expansion of the fuel relief scheme to include 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi vehicles, providing additional relief to their owners.

Under the prime minister’s directive, people operating 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi vehicles will now be eligible to benefit from the scheme.

Motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi vehicles registered after Jan 1 will also be eligible for registration under the scheme. Authorities have been directed to complete the necessary measures for adding the new categories immediately.

The move comes after owners of older vehicles were being excluded from the scheme based on registration dates.

The scheme currently provides relief to owners of vehicles with engines up to 800cc, provided the vehicles were registered after Jan 1, 2006. Vehicles registered before that date are not eligible and are rejected because of their age.

What’s the scheme

The fuel relief scheme was launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reduce the impact of rising petroleum prices and provide direct financial assistance to low-income users of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi vehicles and small cars.

Under the scheme, a relief of Rs100 per litre of petrol was announced for owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi vehicles and cars with engines up to 800cc.

Registration for the scheme was launched through SMS and an online system, with the government taking various measures to facilitate citizens in completing the process.

The inclusion of older motorcycles and Qingqi rickshaws is expected to bring more eligible users within the scheme’s coverage.