ISLAMABAD: The government is considering a proposal to provide subsidized petrol to motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers through mobile applications.
As part of this initiative, the IT Board has invited expressions of interest for the procurement of 24,000 mobile phones.
According to the Ministry of IT, the National Information Technology Board (NITB) will determine the pricing for the mobile phones, while the cost of purchasing these devices will be covered by oil marketing companies. Minister for IT Shaza Fatima stated that no funds from the national exchequer will be used for the procurement of these mobile phones.
She further explained that the plan also aims to promote digital payments and streamline data entry processes. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will activate a dashboard to support these efforts and improve oversight. Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority
Sources indicate that under the proposed system, a dedicated mobile application will be used to provide subsidized fuel to motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers. One app will be operated by the user, while another will be managed by the relevant oil company. Fuel will be distributed based on registration numbers and national identity cards, according to a defined quota.
The IT minister emphasized that long-term reforms will strengthen the country’s capacity to address crises, adding that the OGRA dashboard will help in making data-driven decisions in the energy sector. It is also expected to improve monitoring of the petroleum supply chain through better data integration and oversight.
