Almost 5.9 million Pakistanis have signed up for the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, generating 6.19 million relief tokens.
The registration drive, which began earlier this year, has attracted a massive response across all provinces, indicating the depth of public concern over soaring fuel prices. By the latest count, the government has issued more than six million tokens that can be redeemed for subsidies on petrol and diesel, a figure that dwarfs the initial targets set when the programme was launched.
The scheme is designed to deliver direct cash-equivalent assistance to households whose budgets are being squeezed by the recent hike in international crude oil rates. Eligible families receive a unique token that can be presented at fuel stations, where the subsidy is applied automatically to the pump price. This approach bypasses the need for complex paperwork and aims to reach informal-sector workers, daily wage earners, and small‑business owners who are most vulnerable to energy cost spikes.
Rising fuel costs have been a major driver of inflation in Pakistan, eroding real wages and increasing the cost of transportation and food. By subsidising fuel, the government hopes to curb the inflationary pressure on essential goods and give households a modest breathing space. Officials have said the programme will remain open for further applications, with plans to expand the token pool as the fiscal envelope permits, signalling a continued commitment to mitigate the economic strain on ordinary Pakistanis.