Meeting reviews fuel relief payments

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik led a Thursday session that examined disbursements under the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme, according to The Express Tribune. Participants also reviewed transport and logistics planning intended to keep petroleum products moving nationwide. Representatives of Pakistan Railways, Ogra, OCAC, oil marketing companies and dealer bodies took part.

Railways pledged to make as many rail wagons as possible available for high-speed diesel movement, particularly to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if roads are disrupted. The minister told PSO to prepare depots in advance, and the company said extra stocks were already placed at key depots. Attock Refinery was also to receive steady crude and product deliveries so logistics problems would not force a halt.

Ogra said a control room had been set up for crisis coordination, and the meeting heard that more than 8,500 of roughly 10,000 filling stations had received payments by Thursday. Ali Pervaiz asked Ogra to act against any pump found denying relief to eligible customers. Separately, a National Steering Committee statement said registrations had passed 5 million and the State Bank reported Rs1.350 billion settled across 41,744 of 43,036 claims.