Govt may allocate up to Rs500bn under Sasta Petrol Scheme

September 28, 2026 (MLN): The government may allocate Rs400 billion to Rs500 billion from its own resources to extend Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Sasta Petrol scheme for another 10 months, Petroleum Minister Pervaiz Malik told the media.

He further added that the government would continue the fuel relief programme if necessary and could reduce its own expenditures to finance the scheme. 

The scheme, introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, provides eligible motorcyclists and owners of small vehicles relief of up to Rs100 per litre on petrol.

More than six million people have registered under the scheme so far, Pervaiz Malik said, adding that the government is currently spending between Rs35 billion and Rs40 billion per month on the programme.

The government remained committed to providing relief to consumers despite difficult economic conditions and would continue the scheme for up to 10 months if required, he further noted. 

He added that the government would also pass on any decline in international oil prices to consumers.

Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan has more than 25 million motorcycles that are around 20 years old, highlighting the scale of reliance on older two-wheelers among fuel consumers.

He also said the government could continue the subsidy until the end of the ongoing war if required to shield the public from its impact.

Pervaiz Malik thanked petrol pump owners for extending the benefit of the scheme to consumers without charging additional fees.

The minister also clarified his earlier remarks that petrol prices could reach Rs1,000 per litre, saying the statement had been taken out of context.

According to Pervaiz Malik, he was referring to the possibility of prices becoming difficult to control in case of a petrol shortage.

He said the government was closely monitoring the fuel situation and, due to the prime minister’s decisions, there would be no petrol shortage in the country.

Pervaiz Malik also said the government would not repeat the fuel subsidy approach adopted by the previous administration in 2022, which he claimed had been announced without adequate preparation and had brought the country close to default.

The proposed extension would represent a significant fiscal commitment, with the potential Rs400bn–Rs500bn allocation equivalent to several months of the programme’s current reported monthly spending.

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