ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has declared a major relief program for Islamabad residents through his announcement that motorbike transfer fees will remain suspended for one month.
The initiative, which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif initiated, functions as part of a wider public assistance program that includes subsidies to decrease financial burdens on citizens.
The announcement states that people who transfer motorbike ownership in the federal capital during the designated time frame will not need to pay standard transfer fees.
The program will help numerous bike owners to complete their vehicle ownership changes more easily. The authorities established the temporary fee suspension to deliver fast financial assistance, which would drive people to complete their vehicle registration process.
The Capital Excise Department established extra counters at its Islamabad office to handle rising public traffic while maintaining round-the-clock service during the one-month waiver time.
The government announced this decision after fuel prices changed, which included an all-time high petrol price increase and a subsequent decrease in petroleum tax to assist customers.
The provincial government of Punjab established a complete relief program for motorbike users, which includes cancellation of their registration and transfer fees, monthly financial support, and discounted fuel prices for their registered motorcycles.
Fuel Subsidy for Motorbike Owners
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a relief package amid the rising petrol and diesel prices, which includes subsidies for motorcycle owners, transporters, and small farmers.
In an address to the nation, the premier said that motorcycle owners will benefit from a Rs100 per litre petrol subsidy and small trucks will receive a monthly subsidy of Rs70,000. He further added that large trucks will be given Rs 80,000.
Public transport operators will receive Rs100,000 per month, while freight vehicles will also get a subsidy of Rs100 on a per-litre basis, the prime minister said.
He added that small farmers will be given financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per acre to ease their burden amid rising costs. The prime minister also announced that fares for economy class in Pakistan Railways will not be increased.
Earlier that day, the Punjab and Sindh governments also announced similar measures aimed at easing the burden on citizens impacted by rising fuel costs.
Unveiling a relief package, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that motorcyclists will get a targeted subsidy of Rs100 per 20 litres of petrol. Additional measures include financial support for farmers, with a subsidy of Rs 100 per liter of diesel per acre.
Similarly, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has also announced a Rs2,000 subsidy for each registered motorcyclist for April.
How to get a discount on petrol in Punjab
The subsidy on petrol will be given only to citizens with a motorcycle registered in their name. For that, Chief Minister Maryam has urged citizens to register their motorcycles in their own names within 15 days to qualify for the subsidy.
In this regard, the government has ended fees on the registration or transfer of any motorbike in Punjab.
Eligible citizens can register for the subsidy scheme through multiple platforms from Saturday, April 4.
To apply for a fuel subsidy, citizens can call the hotline 1000, use the ‘Maryam Ko Batayen’ mobile application, or the ‘Maryam Ko Batayen’ web portal (https://mkb.punjab.gov.pk).
Procedure to get petrol subsidy in Sindh
To ensure the timely delivery of the Rs2,000 petrol subsidy per registered bike, motorcycle owners must have a bike registered in their name.
Murad Ali Shah said that citizens should ensure their motorcycles are registered in their own names within 15 days to qualify for the subsidy.
Motorcycle ownership transfers will be free of cost for 15 days, allowing rightful beneficiaries to access the support.
To get a fuel subsidy, owners must register their motorcycles using the Excise Department’s digital application, providing accurate CNIC and bank account details.
Payments will be directly transferred to verified accounts of registered owners, expected between April 15 and 20, totaling Rs 2,000 per bike.
