Punjab Petrol Subsidy 2026: How to Apply via SMS 9771

Petrol prices have climbed sharply again, and if you ride a motorcycle in Punjab, relief is available right now. You can register from your phone in about two minutes. You don't need to visit an office or install an app, and you don't need an agent.

This guide covers who qualifies, what to type, how to use the discount at the pump, and what to do if your registration is rejected.

What is the scheme?

It's the Prime Minister's Special Fuel Relief Scheme. It was announced to soften the impact of higher fuel prices on people who use motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and cars up to 800cc. Bike, rickshaw and Qingqi users get Rs. 100 off per litre on up to 20 litres a month, which works out to a maximum of Rs. 2,000 monthly. Owners of cars up to 800cc get the same Rs. 100 per litre, on up to 30 litres a month, for a maximum of Rs. 3,000.

Punjab is fully covered. The scheme started in Islamabad first and was then rolled out across the whole country at 11:59pm on September 16, 2026.

Who is eligible?

Before you send anything, check these points:

• Vehicle type: A motorcycle, rickshaw or Qingqi, or a car of 800cc or less. Diesel vehicles, cars above 800cc, CNG vehicles and trucks or buses are not covered.
• Registration year: Motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqis registered on or after January 1, 2006 can now register. The age limit was relaxed after the launch.
• Open-letter bikes are fine: For bikes and three-wheelers, the government changed the rules so that the person actually using the vehicle can apply, not only the registered owner. This was done because so many bikes run on open transfer letters. For cars, only the registered owner can apply.
• Your SIM must be in your name: The CNIC you type must match the CNIC the SIM is registered to, because it is checked against PTA records. A family member's SIM will not work.
• One vehicle per CNIC: Each CNIC can register only one vehicle.

What you need before you start

Keep these in front of you:

1. Your 13-digit CNIC number, typed without dashes
2. Your bike's registration (plate) number, typed without spaces or dashes
3. The registration date from your registration book or file
4. A mobile phone with a SIM registered on your CNIC

Step 1: Register by SMS to 9771

Send an SMS to 9771 containing your 13-digit CNIC, your vehicle registration number, the first letter or full name of the province where the vehicle is registered, and the vehicle's registration date. Start the message with REG and put a single space between each part:

REG [CNIC] [Vehicle number] P [Registration date]

Example: REG 3410112345678 GAB1234 P 15032020

Three details trip people up:

• The province letter is where the bike is registered, not where you live. The minister explained that the same plate number can be issued by excise departments in different provinces, so the province must be the one on the registration. A Lahore-registered bike ridden in Islamabad still uses P.
• Write the date as 8 digits: day, month, year. Add a zero in front of a single-digit day or month, leave no spaces inside the date, and use numbers only. For example, 02092026 is correct and 02SEP2026 is wrong.
• It's free. SMS charges under the scheme have been removed for everyone.

If your details are accepted, you'll receive a confirmation SMS, and you only need to register once.

Step 2: Get your fuel token (send TOK)

Each time you want discounted petrol, you first need a token. Send TOK to 9771 and you'll receive a token number, which you show to the petrol station staff for verification.

The token rules were updated a few days after launch, so ignore older guides that mention a "5-litre token":

• Each token for a two- or three-wheeler is now worth a Rs. 500 discount, with no fixed litre quantity.
• A token stays valid for seven days after it is issued.
• You can get four tokens a month.

For example: if two litres of petrol cost Rs. 780, you pay Rs. 280 after the Rs. 500 token is applied.

Tip: Request your token before you reach the pump. Networks can be slow, especially when the pump is crowded.

Step 3: Use the token at the petrol pump

Show the token SMS to the attendant. Staff verify it, and the discount comes off your bill. The IT Minister has advised beneficiaries to check how much fuel they received and confirm the discount was deducted from the total.

If the pump is in an area with poor internet, the government has approved token redemption via SMS at stations without internet connectivity.

Registration rejected? Common reasons

The usual causes are a mismatch between the CNIC and the SIM, a vehicle number that isn't found in the provincial transport database, or a SIM that isn't in the applicant's name. The rejection SMS will state the reason.

Other quick fixes:

• Re-check the date format (8 digits) and the province letter.
• Remove any dashes or spaces from the CNIC and the plate number.
• If you updated your CNIC recently, wait a few days for NADRA's records to refresh before trying again.
• If you're still stuck, visit a facilitation camp. Parliamentarians and political teams are running facilitation camps across all four provinces, as well as GB, AJK and Islamabad.

Beware of scams

This is important. The government has said it will never contact beneficiaries by phone, WhatsApp or SMS to ask for money, an OTP, a code or extra registration details. The only number you should use is 9771. Many websites currently look official but aren't, so don't enter your CNIC into random portals or apps.

What happened to the Maryam Ko Batayen scheme from April?

In April, Punjab ran its own motorcycle petrol relief. Applications went through helpline 1000, the Maryam Ko Batayen app, or an official web portal, and registration and transfer fees for motorbikes were also waived. According to the Petroleum Minister, that targeted relief programme ran until June 30. The current relief is the federal 9771 scheme described above. It is a separate programme that uses SMS tokens and NADRA verification.

Quick FAQs

How much can I save in a month?
Up to Rs. 2,000 on a motorcycle, rickshaw or Qingqi, through four Rs. 500 tokens.

Does the leftover quota carry into next month?
No. The quota resets every month and unused amounts don't roll over.

Do I need a bank account?
No. The discount is applied at the pump, not paid as cash, so you don't need a bank account.

My bike is on an open letter. Can I still apply?
Yes. For two- and three-wheelers, users can register, not just registered owners (see eligibility above).

Does it work for diesel?
No, the subsidy is for petrol only.