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By Tanveer Ahmed :
The federal government is preparing to launch a digital system to ration petrol and diesel via a dedicated mobile application, aiming to manage fuel consumption and curb escalating subsidy expenses.
Officials said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to brief President Asif Ali Zardari on the proposal and seek support for involving provincial governments in sharing the financial burden of fuel subsidies.
Digital Rationing System
According to sources cited by ProPakistani, the proposed mobile application would require users to register their vehicle number and national identity card details. Based on assessed consumption patterns and fuel availability, the system would assign a daily quota of petrol or diesel for each registered user.
Consumers would then be allowed to purchase fuel within their allocated limits, effectively introducing a controlled distribution mechanism.
Rising Fuel Consumption
Officials noted that petroleum consumption has continued to rise over the past year despite higher retail fuel prices, prompting the government to consider a quota-based system to regulate demand and ensure more equitable distribution of resources.
Provincial Contribution to Subsidies
The prime minister is also scheduled to meet President Zardari at Aiwan-i-Sadr to discuss involving provincial governments in financing fuel subsidies. The federal government has already spent around Rs100 billion to keep petroleum prices lower for consumers, and authorities are seeking provincial support to sustain the subsidy programme and reduce pressure on federal finances.
During the meeting, the prime minister is expected to outline the digital fuel rationing plan and broader proposals for expanding provincial participation in subsidy funding, marking a potential shift towards more structured fuel management across the country.
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