CM announces fuel subsidy for motorcycle riders in KP

BRT Fares to Remain Unchanged
Peshawar
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has announced a targeted subsidy for registered motorcycle riders across the province following the recent sharp increase in petroleum prices by the federal government.
The subsidy is intended to shield low and middle income households from the financial burden created by the latest increase in fuel prices. Currently, between 1.4 and 1.6 million motorcycles are registered in the province and will potentially benefit from the relief initiative. The announcement was made while addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar on Sunday. The Chief Minister strongly rejected the recent increase in petroleum prices, stating that the provincial government cannot support any decision or policy that imposes an additional burden on already struggling citizens.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to protecting public welfare, the Chief Minister announced that BRT fares will not be increased despite the prevailing economic pressures, in order to prevent further inflationary impact on commuters. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, he also announced the introduction of pink buses for women within the BRT system to improve safe and accessible public transport for female passengers. He further stated that 140 additional buses will be procured for the BRT system, of which 52 buses have already been manufactured.
The Chief Minister also indicated that the provincial government is preparing a special relief package for farmers ahead of the wheat harvesting season, which will be formally announced in the near future. Commenting on the fuel price adjustment, the Chief Minister stated that the Rs55 per litre increase in petrol prices is unjustified and places an excessive burden on the public, and reiterated that the provincial government categorically rejects the decision. He criticized the apparent inconsistency in the positions of ruling parties, noting that the same political actors had previously described a Rs 12 increase as a “petrol bomb,” yet have now imposed a far larger increase without acknowledging its impact on citizens.
He further referred to recent IMF reports indicating large scale corruption amounting to Rs5,300 billion, stating that under such circumstances the federal government should have prioritized reducing public expenditure and providing relief to citizens, rather than imposing additional financial burdens. The Chief Minister also questioned the purchase of a luxury aircraft worth Rs12 billion by the Punjab government, describing it as an example of misplaced priorities at a time when public resources should instead be directed toward citizen relief and economic stability.
He emphasized that governments must curtail unnecessary expenditures and reduce administrative extravagance rather than shifting the burden onto the public. Addressing the broader energy situation, the Chief Minister acknowledged that while global oil prices do influence domestic pricing, the magnitude of the increase and the policy approach adopted by the federal government remain key concerns.
He noted that the petroleum levy has been increased from Rs85 to Rs105 per litre, and that the federal government has already collected Rs822 billion in petroleum levies during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, with projections indicating that the total could reach approximately Rs1.7 trillion by the end of the fiscal year. Reducing this levy could have provided meaningful relief to consumers. He described the federal government’s decision to engage with provinces through consultations by the Federal Ministers for Finance and Petroleum as a positive step. However, he cautioned that if global conditions deteriorate further, there may be risks of petrol and diesel shortages, and confirmed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will submit formal written proposals to the federal government to address potential supply challenges. The Chief Minister emphasized that “our commitment is not to any government but to Pakistan itself, because Pakistan belongs to all of us.” Highlighting the provincial government’s austerity measures, he noted that most members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly come from middle class backgrounds, yet the government has refrained from increasing its own salaries. In addition, the provincial government has imposed a complete ban on foreign official visits and the purchase of new official vehicles as part of its cost containment measures. He further stated that despite the helicopter crash during flood relief operations, the provincial government has not yet purchased a replacement helicopter, prioritizing public welfare over administrative expenditure. Reiterating that public welfare remains the government’s foremost priority, the Chief Minister stated that the provincial government will not support any policy that undermines the interests of citizens. He also recalled that during the COVID 19 pandemic, the government led by Imran Khan had successfully managed the country under extremely challenging circumstances. The Chief Minister added that the provincial government remains committed to providing relief to citizens in line with Imran Khan’s vision of public welfare oriented governance, and that multiple initiatives are being undertaken to achieve this objective. He also announced that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has established a dedicated monitoring dashboard for petrol pumps across the province. Through this system, authorities are able to monitor fuel availability and identify cases of hoarding or supply disruption in real time. The Chief Minister noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently leading the country in the development and implementation of such fuel monitoring systems.