K-P announces Rs2,000 fuel subsidy for bikers, rickshaw owners

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government on Sunday, in response to surging petrol prices and an ongoing energy crisis, launched the Ehsaas Fuel Support Programme, under which motorcycle, scooter, and rickshaw owners will be given Rs2,000.

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said in a statement on X that the initiative had been introduced on the instructions of CM Sohail Afridi to provide financial relief to transport users.

“A sum of Rs2,000 will be provided to motorcycle, scooter, and rickshaw owners under the Ehsaas Fuel Scheme,” he said, adding that the scheme aims to ease the burden on low-income groups.

The statement added that a “simple and transparent system” had been introduced through the Dastak App, allowing eligible individuals to register and access financial assistance.

Jan said the programme would support the common man and described it as a model public welfare initiative, adding that providing relief to low-income and deserving groups remained the provincial government’s top priority.

He said the government would continue public-focused measures in line with the vision of Imran Khan, while criticising federal policies as placing additional strain on poorer segments of society.

The statement further added that the provincial government was taking practical steps to reduce the financial burden on citizens and remained actively engaged at all levels to provide relief.

On Thursday, the government further increased petrol prices by Rs137 per litre to a record-high of Rs458.4. It was the second major increase in fuel prices in less than a month. However, on Friday night, PM Shehbaz announced a Rs80 per litre reduction in the petroleum levy on petrol.

It was the second major increase in the fuel prices in less than a month after PM Shehbaz increased the diesel and petrol prices by Rs55 per litre last month. The cumulative increase in the petrol price within a month stands at 63%, and that of the high-speed diesel at 75%.

Read: Centre, provinces close ranks on targeted relief

To provide relief to the masses, other provinces had already taken such initiatives. On Friday, the Sindh government had announced a monthly subsidy of Rs2,000 for registered motorcyclists across the province and public transport and goods transport operators would also receive monthly subsidies ranging from Rs70,000 to Rs100,000. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had also announced that public transport across all cities in the province will be made free of charge.