In response to the unprecedented surge in petroleum prices, the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab have introduced significant relief initiatives to alleviate the financial strain on citizens and counteract the escalating costs.
In Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif revealed a comprehensive relief package aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s national austerity and savings campaign. This package includes free access to all public transportation services across the province, such as the Orange Line Train, Metro Bus, Speedo Bus, and Green Electric Bus, enabling commuters to travel without purchasing tickets.
Additional support measures target farmers and motorcyclists. Farmers will receive a subsidy of PKR 100 per liter of diesel per acre, while motorcyclists are entitled to Rs100 for every 20 liters of petrol. CM Maryam attributed the fuel price hike to the global crisis and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which have severely impacted countries like Pakistan that depend heavily on imported oil. She commended PM Shehbaz Sharif for maintaining stable petroleum prices for a month despite international pressures and assured that the government will not abandon citizens during these hardships.
She further encouraged the public to prioritize public transport over private vehicles amid the crisis and urged motorcyclists to register their vehicles in their names within 15 days to qualify for the subsidy.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced a relief package that includes a Rs2,000 subsidy for each registered motorcyclist for April, with payments to be directly transferred to verified owners’ bank accounts. Additionally, motorbike transfer fees have been waived to facilitate ownership registration.
The Sindh government also pledged support for small-scale farmers owning up to 25 acres, offering Rs1,500 per acre for one month. Approximately 336,000 registered farmers are expected to benefit from this initiative. The relief package extends to the public transport and transport sectors as well, with registered passenger buses receiving Rs100,000 per vehicle monthly, two-axle trucks Rs70,000, and heavy trucks Rs80,000. Intra-city buses with higher fuel consumption will receive extra assistance. CM Murad emphasized that only registered vehicles qualify for these subsidies.
He also confirmed that lower-class railway fares will remain unchanged, underscoring the Sindh government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable groups from economic shocks. “Our priority is to provide targeted relief where it is needed most while maintaining fiscal responsibility,” he stated, adding that these measures aim to safeguard the common citizen during this difficult period.
Regarding agricultural support, CM Murad highlighted that around 336,000 small farmers owning between 1 and 25 acres will receive Rs1,500 per acre to help cover diesel costs for wheat threshing. Since verified data is already available, payments are expected to commence next week. He also noted that previous subsidy programs for fertilizers were successfully implemented without complaints.
