Pakistan’s Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja will receive a national award for her role in the government’s fuel subsidy scheme. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the decision after the programme reached more than 10 million direct beneficiaries across Pakistan.
According to Radio Pakistan and reports published by Dawn and The News on October 9–10, 2026, the prime minister praised the efforts of federal and provincial governments. He also recognised the institutions involved in running the scheme. In addition, other officials and teams will receive shields for their contributions.
The announcement confirms that Shaza Fatima will receive a national award. However, available reports do not clearly confirm whether the honour is specifically the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. Therefore, the exact award title remains unverified.
Fuel Subsidy Scheme Crosses 10 Million Beneficiaries
The Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme aims to help eligible citizens manage rising petrol costs. It targets motorcyclists, rickshaw and Qingqi users, as well as owners of eligible cars with engines up to 800cc.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government had allocated Rs75 billion for the scheme. According to Radio Pakistan, officials had issued more than 21.7 million fuel relief tokens by October 9. Of these, approximately 19.4 million had been redeemed.
The government uses a digital system to register eligible citizens and issue fuel relief tokens. The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has helped develop and coordinate this system under Shaza Fatima’s leadership.
Why Shaza Fatima’s Role Was Recognised
The scheme uses digital registration and token verification at petrol stations. Eligible citizens can also register through SMS. As a result, people without smartphones or reliable internet access can use the service.
The government has also changed some rules following public feedback. For example, it removed the five-litre limit for eligible motorcycle and rickshaw users. It also allowed qualifying users of rented motorcycles and rickshaws to register. These changes aim to make fuel relief more accessible.
The programme requires cooperation between several institutions. These include the IT, petroleum and finance ministries, provincial administrations and petrol pump operators. Their combined efforts help deliver fuel assistance to eligible citizens.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the programme will continue to provide relief. The latest announcement recognises Shaza Fatima’s contribution to its implementation. Other officials and teams involved in the scheme will also receive recognition.
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