Centre looks to implement 'discounted' fuel regime.

LAHORE -- Just a day after the announcement of Rs50 subsidy on each litre of petrol for the 'less privileged', State Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik on Monday announced the government will provide petrol at Rs100 less than the official rate for motorbikes and cars of up to 800cc.

'The initial working was to provide petrol at Rs50 less than the Ogra-notified rate to the people having motorcycles and (up to 800cc) cars, but on Sunday night, the prime minister conveyed to us give petrol to the people Rs100 less than the notified rate,' Dr Malik told a press conference.

'However, the petrol for the rich people having cars/vehicles of over 800cc would be costlier, as the objective of the government move is to help a majority of poor people - 210 million of the total 220 million population of the country,' the petroleum minister said.

'So we have separated the Pakistan of the poor and the Pakistan of the rich,' he said, adding that giving petrol to the rich costlier 'would help us in giving fuel to the poor on cheaper rates'.

Talking about gas, he said the gas tariff for the poor and the rich had already been separated with effect from January 1 this year.

'The gas bill of the poor will be much less than the rich,' the minister said. The gas consumption (per unit) rate for the rich would be one-fourth higher than that charged to the poor.

'The target subsidy on the electricity is already in place, as those...