Punjab seeks Rs24 billion for fuel subsidy as relief measures expand

The Punjab government has sought Rs24 billion from the finance department to fund a fuel subsidy scheme for motorcyclists, as part of measures to offset rising petroleum prices.

Officials said a summary has been forwarded for approval, after which funds will be released to operationalise the programme. The scheme is expected to benefit around 12.5 million motorcyclists, with proposed assistance of Rs2,000 per month and a subsidy of Rs100 per litre of petrol.

More than eight million bikers have already registered, and the rollout is expected to begin after completion of the registration process.

The initiative follows earlier relief measures, including a waiver of motorbike transfer and registration-related charges from April 6 to May 5. The exemption covers transfer fees, registration mark fees and smart card charges, with an estimated relief of Rs200 million.

In parallel, the government has introduced free public transport across the province, covering services such as the Orange Line Metro Train, Metro Bus, Speedo buses and electric buses. Officials from the Punjab Mass Transit Authority said around 900,000 passengers are benefiting daily, including over 300,000 Orange Line users and about 140,000 Metro Bus commuters.

The relief measures come amid rising intercity transport fares, with passengers reporting higher ticket prices on major routes. Transport operators attributed the increases to higher fuel costs and reduced passenger affordability.

To manage demand, the government is also considering leasing up to 1,000 additional buses through private operators. Under the proposal, operators would be paid on a per-kilometre basis, with daily costs exceeding Rs61,000 per bus and total expenditure potentially surpassing Rs61 million per day.