PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has announced a targeted subsidy for registered motorcycle riders across the province following the recent sharp increase in petroleum prices by the federal government.
The subsidy is intended to shield low and middle income households from the financial burden created by the latest increase in fuel prices. Currently, between 1.4 and 1.6 million motorcycles are registered in the province and will potentially benefit from the relief initiative.
The announcement was made while addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar on Sunday.
The Chief Minister rejected the recent increase in petroleum prices, stating that the provincial government cannot support any decision or policy that imposes an additional burden on already struggling citizens.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, he also announced the introduction of pink buses for women within the BRT system to improve safe and accessible public transport for female passengers. He further stated that 140 additional buses will be procured for the BRT system, of which 52 buses have already been manufactured.
The Chief Minister also indicated that the provincial government is preparing a special relief package for farmers ahead of the wheat harvesting season, which will be formally announced in the near future.
Commenting on the fuel price adjustment, the Chief Minister stated that the Rs55 per litre increase in petrol prices was unjustified and places an excessive burden on the public, and reiterated that the provincial government categorically rejects the decision. He criticized the apparent inconsistency in the positions of ruling parties, noting that the same political actors had previously described a Rs 12 increase as a “petrol bomb,” yet have now imposed a far larger increase without acknowledging its impact on citizens.
He referred to recent IMF reports indicating large scale corruption amounting to Rs5,300 billion, stating that under such circumstances the federal government should have prioritized reducing public expenditure and providing relief to citizens, rather than imposing additional financial burdens. The Chief Minister also questioned the purchase of a luxury aircraft worth Rs12 billion by the Punjab government, describing it as an example of misplaced priorities at a time when public resources should instead be directed toward citizen relief and economic stability.
