5-Liter Token Limit Removed on PM Petrol Relief

The 5-liter minimum on PM Petrol Relief tokens is removed. See the updated Rs 500 weekly discount rules for bikes, rickshaws, and chingchis.

5-Liter Token Limit Removed on PM Petrol Relief

Policy update, September 19, 2026: the rules below reflect the scheme as it originally stood in the days after launch.

Since then, the government has updated the two- and three-wheeler discount again, removing any fixed liter amount entirely, and has extended vehicle eligibility from 15 years old to 20 years old.

We’ve noted each change inline, and you can read the fuller update in our follow-up post.

Global oil prices just went up again, and if you’ve been waiting on your fuel token wondering whether the 5-liter cap still applies, it doesn’t anymore.

The federal government has officially lifted that limit under the Petrol Relief Scheme, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rolled out extra relief measures to soften the impact on ordinary citizens who rely on motorcycles, rickshaws, and small cars for daily transport.

Government removes the 5-liter limit per token

The federal government has removed the 5-liter petrol limit per token under the Petrol Relief Scheme, also known as the Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme.

This change means token holders are no longer capped at 5 liters per visit when they redeem fuel at a participating petrol pump.

Federal Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima announced the update at a press conference in Islamabad.

She said global oil prices have risen, driven by the same international pressures that have pushed crude oil costs higher worldwide, and in response, the Prime Minister launched this special relief program to support the public through the current situation.

Why the old 5-liter cap mattered in the first place

Before this update, every fuel token was fixed at a maximum of 5 liters regardless of vehicle type.

That structure worked for motorcycles and chingchi rickshaws, whose fuel tanks rarely need more than that in one fill, but it created friction for anyone trying to fuel a slightly larger vehicle or top up less frequently.

Removing the blanket cap lets the scheme apply different, more realistic quotas to different vehicle categories instead of forcing everyone into the same limit.

Free registration and a new weekly discount

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the registration message for the scheme is now completely free.

Citizens no longer pay anything to send the registration text and get enrolled in the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme.

The government also introduced a new discount for smaller vehicles. Motorcycles, chingchis, and rickshaws that take on less than 5 liters of petrol will now receive a Rs 500 discount every week.

This targets the vehicle owners who use the least fuel and arguably need the relief the most, since daily-wage motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers tend to spend a larger share of their income on fuel than car owners do.

Update: this rule has since evolved further. As of September 19, 2026, the Rs 500 weekly discount for motorcycles, chingchis, and rickshaws no longer depends on buying under 5 liters at all.

Owners can now use their weekly token to buy petrol in any quantity, even a small top-up, and still receive the full Rs 500 off. In effect, the token changed from a fixed 5-liter allowance into a flat Rs 500 weekly value that applies regardless of how much fuel is purchased.

Who qualifies for registration

Any motorcycle or chingchi registered after January 1, 2006, qualifies for registration in the scheme. This cutoff date applies across the board, so bike and chingchi owners should check their registration date against it before assuming they’re ineligible.

Eligibility is verified automatically against the relevant provincial Excise and Taxation Department records, so an incorrect registration number or date on your side can cause your application to fail even if your vehicle actually qualifies.

Update: the January 1, 2006 cutoff reflects the scheme’s current rules. Earlier in the rollout, eligibility for motorcycles, chingchis, and rickshaws was tied to a 15-year vehicle age limit, which put the effective cutoff closer to January 1, 2011.

On September 19, 2026, the government extended that age limit to 20 years, which moved the cutoff back to January 1, 2006, the same date that already applied to cars up to 800cc.

If you saw an older article or SMS reply referencing 2011, it reflects the earlier rule and is no longer current.

The minister broke down the vehicle mix currently enrolled in the scheme.

The numbers show the scheme is overwhelmingly serving motorcycle, chingchi, and rickshaw owners, which lines up with the government’s stated goal of prioritizing relief for lower-income households and daily commuters.

How many citizens have received fuel so far

Shaza Fatima shared the latest enrollment and redemption figures for the scheme.

The government has issued fuel tokens to 1,493,848 citizens so far, and of those, 655,067 citizens have already collected their fuel.

That means less than half of registered citizens have redeemed a token so far, which suggests the scheme still has room to grow before most registered users actually receive relief at the pump.

A fraud warning from the government

The minister closed with a direct appeal to the public. She urged citizens not to share their personal information with anyone claiming to help with registration or fuel collection.

Scammers often target relief programs like this one using lookalike SMS shortcodes or fake calls claiming to be from NADRA or the Petroleum Division.

Treat any unsolicited call or message asking for your CNIC, banking PIN, one-time code, or token details as a red flag, since the government and your bank never ask for this information over the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the 5-liter petrol limit per token really been removed?

Yes. The federal government confirmed at an Islamabad press conference that the 5-liter cap per token no longer applies under the Petrol Relief Scheme.

Does removing the cap mean I can get unlimited petrol on one token?

No. Removing the blanket 5-liter rule lets the scheme set different quotas by vehicle type instead of one fixed limit for everyone.

Motorcycles and rickshaws still work within a weekly discount structure, and 800cc cars follow their own separate quota.

Is registration for the Fuel Relief Scheme actually free?

Yes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the registration message is completely free for all eligible applicants.

What is the registration date cutoff for motorcycles and rickshaws?

Vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2006, qualify for registration in the scheme, based on the government’s confirmed cutoff.

How do I avoid getting scammed while registering?

Never share your CNIC, banking password, PIN, or one-time codes with anyone claiming to help you register or collect fuel.

Only use the official registration process, and be cautious of numbers or messages that closely resemble the real shortcode.