Twin Cities Petrol Pumps Halt PM Subsidy
Petrol pumps halt PM subsidy in the twin cities after the recent cut in fuel prices, charging motorists the full rate instead of the subsidised one. Pumps in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have stopped giving the relief, and many stations have stopped supplying petrol altogether.
The subsidy has not been applied for the past four days, and that has led to growing arguments, disputes and altercations between citizens and pump owners.
Petrol pumps halt PM subsidy: who ordered the stop?
Pump owners claim their association told them to stop selling petrol at the subsidised rate. That claim has been rejected by the pump owners’ own leadership.
Nauman Butt, vice chairman of the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association, said the government has not withdrawn the subsidy scheme. He also said the association has not told any pump owner to stop carrying it out.
The gap between the two accounts is now the core of the dispute. Pump owners on the ground say they were told to stop. Their association says no such order was given. Motorists are caught in the middle, paying full price while the two sides argue.
What the subsidy covers
The government launched the targeted scheme in September, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Rs100 per litre in relief on a limited monthly quantity of petrol. The relief covers motorcycles, rickshaws and cars up to 800cc.
The scheme was meant to shield small vehicle owners from fuel price swings. For a motorcyclist who uses a small amount of petrol each month, Rs100 a litre is a real saving. For pump owners, the subsidy means selling below the market rate and waiting for the government to make up the gap.
Earlier this month, the prime minister ordered action against petrol pumps that fail to pass on relief to consumers. He also said the subsidy programme will continue until at least the end of December.
That order followed complaints that some stations were withholding the benefit of the latest fuel price cut. The prime minister ordered action on petrol pumps denying relief at a federal cabinet meeting on November 4, and he asked the petroleum minister to take strict action against the outlets involved.
A dispute with a history
This is not the first clash over the subsidy. The prime minister has already ordered petrol pump licences to be cancelled where stations were found breaking the rules, and the government has warned repeatedly that relief must reach consumers. Fuel pricing rows are a regular feature of the market: the LPG strike was postponed only after talks in Karachi.
The latest fuel price cut was meant to bring prices down for everyone. Petrol was cut to Rs346 a litre in the latest revision, with diesel at Rs378. But a price cut only helps if pumps actually charge the new rate, and the subsidy row shows how easily the benefit can stall at the pump.
What happens next
The government has not withdrawn the scheme, and the association says it has not ordered a halt. That leaves the pumps that stopped the subsidy with no cover for their decision.
Motorists who are refused the subsidy can complain to the district administration or the petroleum ministry. The prime minister has already said action will be taken against pumps that fail to pass on relief, and the November 4 order gives officials a clear basis to act.
For now, the twin cities’ motorists will keep paying full price until the pumps restart the subsidy or the government steps in. The scheme runs until at least the end of December, so the dispute has weeks left to run if it is not settled soon.
Frequently asked questions
Why have twin cities petrol pumps stopped the subsidy?
Pump owners say their association told them to stop. The association’s vice chairman, Nauman Butt, denies that any such order was given.
How much relief does the PM petrol subsidy give?
The scheme gives Rs100 per litre in relief on a limited monthly quantity of petrol for motorcycles, rickshaws and cars up to 800cc.
When was the subsidy scheme launched?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the scheme in September, and it is meant to run until at least the end of December.
What should motorists do if a pump refuses the subsidy?
Motorists can complain to the district administration or the petroleum ministry. The prime minister has ordered action against pumps that fail to pass on relief.
Has the government withdrawn the subsidy?
No. The association says the government has not withdrawn the scheme, and the prime minister has said it will continue until at least the end of December.
