PESHAWAR (Shahid Jan): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a significant relief package to offset the impact of rising petroleum prices, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi unveiling a Rs 2,200 subsidy for registered motorcyclists.
The financial assistance is set to be disbursed in two equal instalments of Rs 1,100, with the provincial government also committing to cover the additional cost of up to 40 litres of petrol for beneficiaries.
During a press conference in Peshawar, the Chief Minister criticised the federal government’s move to increase petrol prices by Rs 55 per litre overnight, noting that his administration had flatly rejected the proposal during a meeting with a visiting Petroleum Division team.
Mr Afridi highlighted the regional economic pressures stemming from the situation in Iran and Afghanistan, but maintained that the burden should not be shifted entirely to the public.
He said that while the provincial government would support the country, it would not back the current federal administration’s “anti-people” policies. In addition to the direct cash relief, the Chief Minister announced that there would be no increase in BRT fares.
To further bolster the public transport system, the province is purchasing 140 new buses, 52 of which are already prepared, including the introduction of “Pink Buses” specifically for women.
Provincial Finance Minister Muzammil Aslam also addressed the media, pointing out that the federal government has already collected Rs 822 billion in petroleum levies during the first seven months of the current fiscal year.
He warned that the federation aims to collect a total of Rs 1,700 billion by year-end by raising the levy from Rs 86 to as high as Rs 105.
Mr Aslam further noted that the provincial government has reduced the regulatory duty on wheat by 60 per cent to provide additional relief on essential food items. The Chief Minister concluded by stating that the province would submit its own economic suggestions to the federation, reiterating that the country’s stability remains a collective responsibility.
