Dar calls for coordination to ensure smooth implementation of PM's fuel relief scheme

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday stressed the need for continued coordination among relevant authorities to facilitate beneficiaries and ensure the uninterrupted provision of services under the Prime Minister’s Special Fuel Relief Scheme across the country. Dar made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee on the scheme following his return from New York, according to his post on X. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the fuel relief initiative, including beneficiary registration, issuance and redemption of tokens, payments and mechanisms for addressing complaints, it added. It further said officials briefed the committee that around 7.6 million consumers had so far been successfully registered under the scheme. The meeting was also informed that 7.71 million fuel tokens had been redeemed, with the token redemption process having entered its second week, the statement added. DPM Dar expressed satisfaction with the progress of the scheme, saying its implementation was the result of joint and coordinated efforts by all relevant government institutions. The meeting appreciated the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Petroleum, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), State Bank of Pakistan and provincial governments. Dar stressed the need for continued coordination to facilitate beneficiaries and ensure the uninterrupted provision of services across the country. Upon his return from New York today, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy to review the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Special Fuel Relief Scheme. The Committee… pic.twitter.com/l6KwuFQpW2 — Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (@DPM_PK) September 29, 2026 On September 16, the PM’s Fuel Relief Scheme, which was already operational in Islamabad, was rolled out across the country at midnight. Three days later, DPM Dar directed authorities to bring all operational fuel stations “onto the system” to ensure the proper implementation of the scheme. A statement issued by Dar’s office also said the committee had approved the redemption of fuel tokens through SMS by messaging 9771 for stations located in areas without internet access. Later, on September 28, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government would continue the fuel subsidy system for up to 10 months, if necessary, and divert Rs400 billion to Rs500 billion from its budget to provide relief to the public. The rising cost of fuel has sparked nationwide protests, with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) taking the lead. The party has demanded that the government do away with the petroleum levy, calling it an extortion tax that has placed an additional burden on the public already struggling with inflation. Following continued public outcry over rising fuel prices, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the inclusion of 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws in the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on September 19. A day later, the PMO said, “Upon the prime minister’s instructions, motorcyclists, as well as owners of Qingqis and rickshaws who purchase less than five litres of petrol, will also be entitled to a discount of Rs500 against a single token within a week.” Read More: Govt vows fuel relief of up to Rs500b The move lifted the five-litre fuel relief per month ceiling for beneficiaries. It further outlined that users driving vehicles of up to 800cc would continue to receive a discount of Rs100 per litre on 10 litres of petrol every 10 days. Accordingly, three tokens for 10 litres of petrol would be issued each month. Earlier, Dar arrived in Islamabad after a successful visit to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, underscoring "the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomacy to advance regional peace and stability." According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, Dar arrived back in the federal capital on a Pakistan International Airlines flight after he accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif "during his high-level engagements and held bilateral meetings with his counterparts." Dar also participated in United Nations meetings as well as those of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The foreign minister also chaired the 27th Informal Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). Further, Dar "also addressed high-level meetings on artificial intelligence and pandemic preparedness," the Foreign Office said. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 arrived back in Islamabad today on a PIA flight after a successful visit to New York for the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly. During the visit, the DPM/FM accompanied… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 29, 2026 It added that Dar "reiterated Pakistan's principled positions on Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir," noting that the foreign minister "also underscored the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomacy to advance regional peace and stability." Dar arrived in New York on September 21 to participate in the 81st session of the UNGA, with a full slate of diplomatic engagements set for his visit. The Foreign Office had said in a previous statement that he would be in New York from September 21 to 25 to attend the UNGA, adding that he had an “extensive and wide-ranging programme” planned during the high-level week. On September 22, the foreign minister and his counterparts from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt exchanged views on the latest regional situation and expressed “full support” for efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution, holding a ministerial meeting of the Regional-4 (R-4) group on the sidelines of the UNGA. Dar “reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the R-4 framework,” the Foreign Office had said, adding that he also “expressed the need for continued engagement for enhancing regional peace and prosperity”. The four ministers also reiterated their support for the “legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”, including their “inalienable right to self-determination”, backing the Palestinian people’s right “to establish an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine” with East Jerusalem as its capital. Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt used the R-4 framework for consultations on regional and international issues, with Dar reiterating Islamabad’s commitment to continued engagement through the grouping. Also Read: Norwegian FM praises Pakistan's role in regional peace in meeting with CDF Munir A day later, Dar held separate meetings with his Austrian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Greek counterparts, exchanging views on regional and global issues as well as discussing bilateral ties. The foreign minister underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in his meetings with his counterparts. On September 23, Dar also criticised India’s unilateral attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, saying that it had introduced another “dangerous dimension” and adding that international obligations cannot be set aside when they become inconvenient. “India’s unilateral attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance has introduced another dangerous dimension. The Treaty is a binding international agreement and contains no provision permitting its unilateral suspension,” Dar said while addressing the OIC Contact Group’s ministerial meeting on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Later, on September 24, Dar met his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, along with Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi and the Foreign Minister of Nepal Shisir Khanal. Chairing the 27th Informal Meeting of the ECO on September 26, Dar reiterated the need to eliminate the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, saying terrorism emanating from Afghan soil was undermining efforts to promote peace, prosperity and development in the region. He added that Pakistan had always sought a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan that was integrated into the region and at peace with itself and its neighbours. “Regrettably, the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil undermines these efforts,” he added. Read More: Prince Rahim Aga Khan lauds PM Shehbaz's regional peace efforts at UN The foreign minister also noted that Pakistan had pursued constructive engagement with the Taliban regime, extending bilateral and transit trade concessions to Afghanistan and making the signing of a framework agreement for a feasibility study on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway project a key priority. Dar stated that Islamabad's expectation was that the Taliban regime would address its security concerns, including through “concrete and verifiable actions” against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and their affiliates. “These groups continue to threaten Pakistan's sovereignty and the lives of its citizens,” he said, adding that regional peace and development could only be achieved with the elimination of the terrorist threat from Afghanistan. Separately, Dar expressed concern over the continued violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Occupied East Jerusalem while participating in the Joint Arab League - Group of 4 Islamic Countries (Pakistan, Turkiye, Malaysia, Indonesia) Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem. The foreign minister also reiterated Pakistan's steadfast support for the Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in Jerusalem, reaffirming Islamabad's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and for the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

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