Karachi, September 16, 2026: Petroleum dealers on Wednesday refused to sell petrol under the government’s newly launched Rs100-per-litre relief scheme for motorcyclists, rickshaw owners and drivers of vehicles up to 800cc, citing concerns over its implementation mechanism and financial burden.
Addressing a press conference, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Vice Chairman Anwar Kamal said dealers were not consulted while the scheme was being prepared, making the current mechanism difficult to implement.
“We have reservations about the mechanism of the relief scheme,” Kamal said, adding that relief should be provided directly to consumers through a simple and transparent mechanism.
He said dealers were already facing financial pressures due to inflation, while billions of rupees owed by oil marketing companies remained outstanding.
“Putting the financial burden of the relief scheme on dealers is not workable,” he said, while also demanding an increase in dealers’ margins.
Kamal questioned how the government would reimburse dealers for the discounted petrol, saying the association had been contacting the government for the past three days but had received no response.
He reiterated that dealers would not sell petrol under the relief scheme in its “current form”.
The federal government launched the special relief scheme on September 13, offering Rs100 per litre relief on petrol for motorcyclists, rickshaw owners and drivers of vehicles up to 800cc, amid rising fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Announcing the scheme, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government was aware of the burden rising oil prices had placed on the public and would not leave people alone during the difficult period.
Under the scheme, owners and users of motorcycles, rickshaws and other two- and three-wheeled vehicles are eligible for Rs100 per litre relief on up to 20 litres of petrol per month.
Owners of small vehicles with engine capacity of up to 800cc are eligible for the same relief on up to 30 litres per month.
Dar directs simple registration process
A day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting to review administrative arrangements for the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme and directed authorities to ensure simple registration and smooth implementation.
Dar stressed that the registration process should remain simple and accessible to ensure maximum benefits reach the intended beneficiaries. He also directed authorities to intensify public outreach and ensure smooth implementation at petrol stations.
He urged elected representatives to disseminate information about the scheme and facilitate citizens in the registration process. Volunteers of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme were also to be engaged to assist with public awareness and registration.
The meeting was informed that the scheme was already operational in Islamabad and would be rolled out across the country at 11:59pm on September 16, 2026.
