ISLAMABAD, 19 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy to review the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme. The committee was informed that an overwhelming majority of fuel stations across the country are now operational on the system, while citizens are redeeming fuel tokens. Registration under the scheme is continuing nationwide through SMS at 9771. The committee approved the redemption of fuel tokens through SMS at fuel stations located in areas without internet connectivity, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and the provinces were directed to furnish lists of such stations so that they could be brought under the scheme without delay. The State Bank of Pakistan informed the committee that all payment claims received over the past three days had been settled in full, with claims received each day being processed on the same day. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar directed that every fuel station that is open and operational be brought onto the system and that stations found to be permanently closed or dealing exclusively in diesel be identified and removed from the list to ensure that the scheme’s coverage accurately reflects the situation on the ground. The Deputy Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the provincial administrations and acknowledged the cooperation extended by the State Bank of Pakistan, stressing that relief must continue to reach the intended beneficiaries without hindrance. The meeting was attended by the Ministers for Petroleum, Economic Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, and IT and Telecommunication; Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan; Chairman OGRA; Chairman Pakistan Digital Authority; Secretary Petroleum; Chief Commissioner ICT; Additional Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and senior officials from AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and relevant federal and provincial departments.