_updates.jpg)
Following the historic rise in fuel prices, the governments of Sindh and Punjab have introduced major relief measures to help citizens cope with increasing costs.
In Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif rolled out a "bif relief package" under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s national austerity and savings programme.
As part of the package, all public transport across the province — including the Orange Line Train, Metro Bus, Speedo Bus, and Green Electric Bus — will be free of charge, allowing commuters to travel without purchasing tickets.
Additional measures include financial support for farmers, with a subsidy of PKR 100 per liter of diesel per acre. Motorcyclists will also benefit from Rs100 per 20 litres of petrol.
Punjab CM Maryam said that the global crisis and ongoing war in the Middle East have driven up fuel prices, hitting countries like Pakistan, which heavily rely on imported oil, the hardest.
She praised PM Shehbaz for maintaining petroleum prices for one month despite international challenges. “The government will not leave citizens to face hardships alone,” she said.
The Punjab chief minister urged citizens to prefer public transport over private vehicles during the current crisis.
Maryam also urged citizens to register their motorcycles in their own names within 15 days to qualify for the subsidy.
Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced relief measures, including a Rs2,000 subsidy for each registered motorcyclist for April. The payments will be transferred directly to verified owners’ bank accounts, and motorbike transfer fees have been waived.
In addition, the Sindh government announced support for small farmers, with those owning up to 25 acres set to receive Rs1,500 per acre for one month. Around 336,000 registered farmers are expected to benefit from this measure.
The relief package also includes support for public transport and the transport sector. Registered passenger buses will receive Rs100,000 per vehicle per month, two-axle trucks Rs70,000 per month, and heavy trucks Rs80,000 per month. Intra-city buses with higher fuel consumption will also receive additional support.
“Only registered vehicles are eligible for these subsidies,” said CM Murad
He said that lower-class railway fares will remain unchanged.
CM Murad reiterated that the Sindh government is committed to shielding the most vulnerable segments from economic shocks.
“Our priority is to provide targeted relief where it is needed most, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. These measures will ensure that the common man is protected during this challenging time,” he concluded.
For the support for the agriculture sector, CM Murad said that around 336,000 small growers owning between 1 and 25 acres will receive Rs1,500 per acre.
“This subsidy is aimed at supporting diesel costs for wheat threshing. Since verified data is already available, payments will begin from next week,” he said, adding that previous subsidy programmes for fertilisers had been implemented successfully without complaints.
