Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday directed that all operational fuel stations be brought onto the system under the prime minister’s fuel relief scheme, while permanently closed stations and those dealing exclusively in diesel be removed from the list.

He issued the directives while chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy to review the implementation of the scheme, according to a statement issued by his office.

“Every fuel station which is open and operating” should be brought onto the system, while stations found permanently closed or dealing exclusively in diesel should be identified and removed from the list, the statement quoted him as saying.

The committee was informed that an overwhelming majority of fuel stations across the country were now operational on the system and that citizens were redeeming fuel tokens.

Registration is continuing nationwide via SMS to 9771.

The committee also approved the redemption of fuel tokens via SMS at stations in areas without internet connectivity. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the provinces were asked to furnish lists of such stations so that they could be brought onto the scheme without delay.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) informed the committee that all payment claims received over the past three days had been settled in full, with claims received each day processed on the same day.

Dar appreciated the efforts of the provincial administrations and the cooperation extended by the SBP, stressing that “the relief must continue to reach the intended beneficiaries without hindrance”.

PM Shehbaz on Sep 13 announced a “relief scheme” for users of motorcycles, autos and vehicles of up to 800cc to “alleviate the burden” of rising global oil prices.

Under the scheme, owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqis, three-wheelers and vehicles with engines of up to 800cc will receive a Rs100 per litre relief on petrol.

On Friday, PM Shehbaz approved a revised structure for the public under the fuel relief scheme currently in vogue across the country, expanding it to include more two- and three-wheelers, and easing weekly limits to offer motorists more flexibility in how they use the support.

He directed that motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws up to 20 years old should also be included in the scheme.

Renewed hostilities in the Middle East, which have resulted in disruption of major oil supply routes, have caused fuel prices to rise in the past two months.

In addition to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war, trade via Bab al-Mandab — which has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports in recent months — is also facing a rising threat from Houthi rebels.

The subsidy scheme faced snags on Thursday, the first day of its nationwide rollout, as many petrol pumps declined to honour the digital app, claiming they lacked the system needed to provide petrol at Rs100 per litre less.

Amid the fuel crisis, the federal government on Thursday also reintroduced austerity measures, including setting 9pm as the closing time for markets and reducing fuel provision for official vehicles by 50 per cent for a period of three months.