The government may extend Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Sasta Petrol Scheme for another 10 months.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik shared the possibility during a ceremony in Lahore. He said the government could allocate between Rs. 400 billion and Rs. 500 billion for the program.

The funding could come from the government’s own resources if the relief initiative continues.

Malik said the government intends to provide fuel relief despite challenging economic conditions. He added that official expenditures could be reduced to finance the program if required.

The Petrol Scheme is designed to lower fuel costs for motorcyclists and owners of small vehicles. According to Malik, the program has reduced the effective petrol cost by up to Rs. 100 per liter.

The relief is mainly aimed at people who depend on motorcycles and smaller vehicles for daily travel.

More than six million eligible people have registered their motorcycles and vehicles under the initiative.

Malik said nearly six million beneficiaries are motorcycle owners. Many of those registered motorcycles are up to 20 years old.

The minister said this indicates that a large share of the support is reaching lower-income riders. Motorcycles are widely used for daily commuting because they generally cost less to operate than cars.

Fuel prices can therefore have a significant impact on household transport expenses.

Malik also discussed how the government plans to finance any possible extension. He said the government would not follow the fuel subsidy model used by the previous administration in 2022.

Instead, authorities could reduce government spending to meet the cost of the current relief program.

This approach would allow the government to continue the Petrol Scheme without adopting the same subsidy mechanism.

However, the possible 10-month extension has not yet been presented as a final decision. The government would need between Rs. 400 billion and Rs. 500 billion if the program continues as discussed.

The latest remarks suggest fuel relief remains under consideration for the coming months.

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Any final extension and funding arrangements would depend on the government’s formal approval and budget decisions.