Pakistan to deploy 24,000 mobile phones for digital fuel subsidy system

The government has approved the procurement of approximately 24,000 mobile phones to implement a nationwide, app-based fuel subsidy system, officials said, as part of efforts to manage the ongoing energy crisis through targeted relief and tighter monitoring.

The devices will be installed at petrol pumps across the country, forming the backbone of a new digital framework that regulates the distribution of subsidised petrol. Under the plan, two mobile phones will be deployed at each of around 12,000 petrol pumps. Oil marketing companies will procure the devices and supply them to the pumps, while the Ministry of IT will oversee the rollout and the National IT Board will determine pricing.

The system will allocate two dedicated nozzles per pump for subsidised fuel. Consumers, particularly motorcyclists and three-wheeler owners, will access their quota through a mobile application using digital vouchers or QR codes. Eligible motorcycles are expected to receive 20 to 30 litres per month, with controls in place to prevent exceeding the assigned quota.

Officials said the mobile application is already developed and in the final testing phase. A decision on extending the scheme to vehicles up to 800cc is under consideration, with selected additional categories of users potentially included in a targeted subsidy model.

Authorities have also launched a monitoring mechanism at petrol pumps nationwide to ensure transparency and prevent misuse. The QR code-based verification is expected to improve accountability and efficiency in fuel distribution. An official announcement regarding the system’s rollout is expected shortly.