# Petrol pumps start Rs 100 relief sales after govt talks, and 9771 SMS is now free

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/economy/petrol-pump-strike-threat-dealers-warn-of-shutdown-over-rs-100-fuel-relief-schem)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable
Published: 17 Sept 2026
Updated: 17 Sept 2026
Retrieved: 17 Sept 2026

> Dealers who threatened to shut pumps began selling discounted petrol on 17 September after talks with the government. Here is how to register and claim, and what the scheme saves you.

**Update, 17 September, 7:00pm PKT:** petrol pump dealers have **started selling fuel under the Rs 100 relief scheme** after talks with the government on Thursday, Geo News reported, quoting the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA). The government has also made **registration SMS to 9771 free**. Pumps are open, and no strike date was ever set.

Petrol costs **Rs 391.22 a litre** today, up **Rs 80.51** since 11 July. Diesel is **Rs 421.45**, up **Rs 98.15**. With the Rs 100 discount, an eligible motorcyclist or small-car owner pays **Rs 291.22 a litre**.

## How the standoff ended

On Wednesday the PPDA said its members would not sell petrol under the scheme until the government agreed a clear way to pay them back. The Petroleum Ministry called an emergency meeting on Thursday, and Dawn reported that dealers were invited to a virtual meeting with the federal secretary that morning, with OGRA offering a briefing. PPDA vice chairman Tariq Hassan told Dawn that about **14,000 dealers** were waiting for answers.

After the talks, the PPDA confirmed that dealers had begun running the scheme, Geo reported. Neither side has published the reimbursement terms, so it is not yet known whether the dealers' demands below were accepted.

IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on 17 September that, on the Prime Minister's direction, the registration SMS is now **completely free of charge**, PhoneWorld reported.

## What the dealers asked for

The PPDA is led by chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh and vice chairman Anwar Kamal. "If the scheme is imposed on us, we will shut down fuel stations," Kamal said, according to The Express Tribune on 17 September.

The dealers' main question is who pays for the discount. "Putting the financial burden of the relief scheme on dealers is not workable," Kamal told Geo News on 16 September. He also asked how the government would pay dealers back for the cheaper petrol. Aaj News quoted Khuda Bakhsh as saying that if the government wants to give the public relief, "it should do so with its own money".

The Tribune reports that the association wants:

- a clear process for reimbursing dealers, naming the institution that pays
- the subsidy paid directly to consumers instead of at the pump
- the previous subsidy mechanism brought back
- monthly price-setting in place of daily revisions
- the dealers' margin raised to 8%
- consultation before the scheme is imposed

## The scheme dealers object to

The PM's fuel relief scheme was announced on 13 September. It began as a pilot in Islamabad on 15 September and went nationwide from midnight on 17 September, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The ECC has approved Rs 75 billion for it.

- **Motorcycles and rickshaws:** Rs 100 off a litre on up to 20 litres a month, a saving of up to Rs 2,000.
- **Cars up to 800cc:** Rs 100 off on up to 30 litres a month, a saving of up to Rs 3,000.
- **How to register:** send your CNIC number, vehicle number, province and registration date by SMS to 9771. Before buying fuel, text TOK to 9771 to get a token.

At today's price, the discounted rate works out to **Rs 291.22 a litre**. The Prime Minister has ordered facilitation desks at pumps, staffed by district officials and pump workers. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has ordered strict monitoring of stations that delay or refuse subsidised petrol, PhoneWorld reported.

## How much more you pay since July

On 11 July the government set petrol at Rs 310.71 and diesel at Rs 323.30. It has since moved to daily pricing. The rises in rupees:

| Fill-up | Cost on 11 July | Cost today | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 litres petrol (bike) | Rs 3,107 | Rs 3,912 | Rs 805 |
| 40 litres petrol (car) | Rs 12,428 | Rs 15,649 | Rs 3,220 |
| 100 litres diesel | Rs 32,330 | Rs 42,145 | Rs 9,815 |

That is a 25.9% rise for petrol and 30.4% for diesel. Put your own monthly distance into our [fuel cost calculator](/tools/cars/fuel-cost-calculator), and track daily rates on the [petrol price page](/data/petrol-price).

## What motorists should do

- **Register if you qualify.** Send `REG` followed by your CNIC number, vehicle registration number, province code and registration date (DDMMYYYY) to **9771**, with no dashes. The SMS is now free. Our [Rs 100 relief explainer](/news/economy/rs-100-off-a-litre-petrol-relief-9771-who-qualifies-how-to-claim) covers eligibility.
- **Get your token before you reach the pump:** text `TOK` to 9771 and carry your CNIC.
- **If a pump still refuses,** go to one with a government facilitation desk and ask the officials there.
- **Fill up normally.** There is no strike and no reason for panic buying. We will update this story if the reimbursement dispute flares up again.

For today's full price breakdown, see [petrol price in Pakistan today](/news/economy/petrol-price-2026-09-17).

## Frequently asked questions

**Is there a petrol pump strike in Pakistan today?**

No. On 17 September 2026 dealers began selling fuel under the Rs 100 relief scheme after talks with the government, Geo News reported. The PPDA never announced a strike date.

**Is the 9771 registration SMS free?**

Yes. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on 17 September 2026 that registration messages to 9771 are now free of charge on the Prime Minister's direction.

**How much has petrol gone up since July 2026?**

Petrol rose from Rs 310.71 on 11 July to Rs 391.22 on 17 September, an increase of Rs 80.51 a litre. Diesel rose from Rs 323.30 to Rs 421.45, an increase of Rs 98.15.

**How do I get Rs 100 off petrol?**

If you own a motorcycle, rickshaw or car up to 800cc, register by sending your CNIC, vehicle number, province and registration date to 9771. Text TOK to 9771 to get a token before you buy fuel.

## Sources

- Petroleum dealers begin fuel sales under relief scheme after talks with govt (17 Sep 2026) (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/682484-petroleum-dealers-begin-fuel-sales-under-relief-scheme-after-talks-with-govt
- Dealers await answers as fuel subsidy rollout begins (17 Sep 2026) (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2030506
- Govt calls emergency meeting after pumps reject fuel subsidy (17 Sep 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/17/govt-calls-emergency-meeting-after-pumps-reject-fuel-subsidy/
- PM Petrol Relief Scheme: registration message now free, says federal minister (17 Sep 2026) (PhoneWorld): https://www.phoneworld.com.pk/pm-petrol-relief-scheme-free-sms-registration-shaza-fatima-khawaja/
- Dealers threaten shutdown over fuel relief scheme (17 Sep 2026) (The Express Tribune): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629768/dealers-threaten-shutdown-over-fuel-relief-scheme
- Petroleum dealers refuse to sell fuel under govt relief scheme (16 Sep 2026) (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/682334-petroleum-dealers-refuse-to-sell-fuel-under-govt-relief-scheme
- Dealers reject fuel relief, threaten pump closures (16 Sep 2026) (Aaj News): https://english.aaj.tv/news/330472627/dealers-reject-fuel-relief-threaten-pump-closures
- Fuel subsidy: PM directs facility desks at petrol pumps (17 Sep 2026) (Aaj News): https://english.aaj.tv/news/330472653/fuel-subsidy-pm-directs-facility-desks-at-petrol-pumps
- PM Fuel Relief Scheme expands nationwide as IT minister inspects pumps (17 Sep 2026) (PhoneWorld): https://www.phoneworld.com.pk/pm-fuel-relief-scheme-expands-nationwide-as-it-minister-conducts-surprise-petrol-pump-inspections/
- Fuel Now Rs. 100 More Expensive in Pakistan Since July (17 Sep 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/17/fuel-now-rs-100-more-expensive-in-pakistan-since-july/
- Govt jacks up petrol, diesel prices by over Rs13 per litre (10 Jul 2026) (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/672496-govt-jacks-up-petrol-diesel-prices-by-over-rs13-per-litre

How to cite: "Petrol pumps start Rs 100 relief sales after govt talks, and 9771 SMS is now free", Searchable, 17 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/economy/petrol-pump-strike-threat-dealers-warn-of-shutdown-over-rs-100-fuel-relief-schem